While the Pittsburgh Steelers are very much set at running back with their two-headed monster in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, a battle for the team’s third running back spot is possibly up for grabs. The signing of Cordarrelle Patterson puts a damper on the fringe players hopes of making the roster as the third-string running back but the Steelers may decide to roster three true running backs and Patterson.
If that is the case, the Steelers have brought in a multitude of different types of running backs to compete for that job including the two-time Super Bowl winning La’Mical Perine. He will be going up against fellow veteran Jonathan Ward, undrafted rookie Daijun Edwards and first-year guy Aaron Shampklin for that roster spot.
Perine’s advantage over those guys, including a veteran like Ward, is that he comes from a Super Bowl winning culture in Kansas City and knows about the smaller sacrifices that need to be made in order for the team to click on all phases.
The smaller sacrifices that the Steelers third-string running back takes each season is playing primarily on special teams. Perine has played 99 special teams snaps over his three active years in the league which is far less than Ward’s 553 special teams snaps over the same span of time. This may give Ward an advantage there but with Perine’s winning mindset, adopting that as his primary job should not be too much of a hassle, if he makes the team.
Regardless, it is unknown if any of those four will make the Steelers 53-man roster with Patterson in the mix. It would make sense for one of them to be rostered due to the fact that Patterson’s role on special teams is as a returner, not a coverage guy like they will need. Anthony McFarland played in this role last season but with him gone, the Steelers will need to replace him.
Perine, while he is built different than McFarland, has some of the same attributes that McFarland brought to the team. Perine can catch the ball out of the backfield and is a capable runner as he averaged 3.6 yards per carry for his career so far. Perine’s frame should allow him to play on the special team coverage units while his pass catching and running abilities are good enough to warrant a roster spot.
Perine should get a good chance at training camp and in the preseason with Harris and Warren on the sidelines as they are already proven players and starters. If he makes the team, it gives the Steelers a solid option at running back if one of the top two guys goes down.
Made EVERYBODY miss 🫢 pic.twitter.com/lLjM7XdoOk
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 26, 2023
38 • La’Mical Perine, Running Back, Florida
5-foot-11, 216 pounds, 26 years old, 5th Season
Acquired: The Steelers signed La’Mical Perine to a one-year contract on May 23, 2024.
Last Year: Perine was again on the practice squad before he was called up to the active roster on Dec. 24 where he stayed throughout the end of the playoffs.
Perine played in three regular season and three postseason games for Kansas City, totaling 22 carries for 77 yards. He saw his most extensive playing time on Jan. 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers, in a game that the Chiefs rested most of their starters.
In the playoffs last year, Perine was active for the first three rounds, but played only on special teams. He was not dressed for Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Career: Originally a fourth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2020, La’Mical Perine played 14 games over two seasons in New York, rushing 72 times for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He was cut by the Jets in 2022, and spent time on the practice squads of the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins before catching on in Kansas City.
Perine spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, earning two Super Bowl rings in the process. He was on the practice squad when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII. Perine re-signed with Kansas City for the 2023 season.
Over his first four seasons, Perine has amassed 340 yards on 94 carries and two touchdowns. He has played in 19 games and started one of them so far.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Carries | Yards | AVG | Rush TDs |
| 2020 | NYJ | 10 | 0 | 64 | 232 | 3.6 | 2 |
| 2021 | NYJ | 4 | 0 | 8 | 31 | 3.9 | 0 |
| 2022 | KC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | KC | 5 | 1 | 22 | 77 | 3.5 | 0 |
College: La’Mical Perine committed to play his collegiate football at the University of Florida. As a Gator, Perine rushed for 2,485 yards and 22 touchdowns over four seasons. He also caught 72 passes for 674 yards and another eight scores. His best statistical seasons came in 2018, when he had 996 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns, and 2019, when he had 938 yards from scrimmage and 11 scores.
In total, Perine appeared in 50 games for the Gators and started 22 ball games for them.
| Year | GP | Carries | Rush Yards | Rush TDs | Receptions | Rec. Yards | Rec. TDs |
| 2016 | 13 | 91 | 421 | 1 | 9 | 161 | 1 |
| 2017 | 11 | 136 | 562 | 8 | 10 | 81 | 1 |
| 2018 | 13 | 134 | 826 | 7 | 13 | 170 | 1 |
| 2019 | 13 | 132 | 676 | 6 | 40 | 262 | 5 |
Salary cap and future: La’Mical Perine will cost $1.055 million against the Steelers 2024 cap space if he makes the 53-man roster. None of his contract is guaranteed meaning if the Steelers decided to release him, they will not face any dead money penalties and free up the entirety of the contract in cap space.
If he makes the team as the third running back, Perine will become a free agent again following this season.
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