The Pittsburgh Steelers have cut a fourth-year and former highly-touted running back ahead of Saturday’s must-win home tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On Thursday, the Steelers announced that they have released seldom-used running back Anthony McFarland Jr. The 2020 fourth-round pick and former Maryland standout had spent his entire four-year career with the Steelers.
Pittsburgh drafted McFarland Jr. 124th overall in 2020, after posting two straight quality seasons with the program. McFarland Jr. had 1,034 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 2018 and 614 rushing yards to go along with eight rushing scores and 126 receiving yards in 2019.
The Steelers never gave McFarland Jr. much of a chance to shine, however. In four seasons, he saw only 42 total carries for 146 yards and zero rushing scores. This year, the Pittsburgh offense has relied heavily on the dynamic RB duo of Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, thus leaving little room for McFarland to produce.
