Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Kenneth Gainwell has been well worth what the Pittsburgh Steelers are paying him.
The fifth-year tailback has piled up 1,312 all-purpose yards entering Week 16, a total that leads his team and ranks seventh in the AFC. His 57 receptions also top the Steelers’ leaderboard.
Gainwell had 862 all-purpose yards with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. He’s currently averaging nearly 44 more all-purpose yards per game this season (93.7) than the last one (50.7). Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he expected Gainwell to have an increased role in black and gold when the team signed him last offseason.
“Saquon (Barkley) casts a pretty large shadow,” Tomlin said. “We played that football team and Kenny made some significant plays in that game against us, converting third downs early in that game that produced scoring drives. I think he converted three third downs that transferred to 17 points in the midst of that game. He also covered kicks in that game. He returns kicks.
“So what we saw was a guy that was a football player first, that had a nice skillset to do a lot of things. … I don’t know that either of us is surprised by what he’s doing or what he’s capable of. We saw it firsthand in-stadium as an opponent.”
The Eagles drafted Gainwell in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Najee Harris (Steelers, No. 24 overall), Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 25), Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos, No. 35), Trey Sermon (San Francisco 49ers, No. 88), Michael Carter (New York Jets, No. 107), Kene Nwangwu (Minnesota Vikings, No. 119), Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots, No. 120) and Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers, No. 126) were the tailbacks selected before him.
Gainwell spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles. He inked a one-year free agent deal worth about $1.7 million with the Steelers this past offseason. Gainwell has more rushing yards (451) than five of them this go-round. He’s racked up the most receiving yards (332) of the entire group.
“I think that’s just the development of a player,” Gainwell said Wednesday. “Philly developed me very well and it’s paying off.”
Gainwell’s ground total is the highest of his career. As is his receiving output, which has complemented star wideout DK Metcalf. Gainwell was asked why he’s been able to have such success with the Steelers.
“Aaron Rodgers. That’s all I can say,” Gainwell said. “Him trusting me, my hands, just doing the small things and just going out there and working.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Kenneth Gainwell Flipping Script in Steelers Backfield
