42-21 flashed on the scoreboard as the Kansas City Chiefs ended the Pittsburgh Steelers 2021 season. The Steelers were overmatched that day and fell behind 35-7 before a couple of garbage time touchdowns near the end of the game. Changes were coming after Ben Roethlisberger's last gasp as the ghost of the player left the field for the last time. However, another ghost on the opposing sideline seemed to find his way back to NFL relevance.
Jerick McKinnon joined the NFL in 2014 as a 3rd round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings. During his first four seasons with Minnesota, he was a tantalizing change of pace running back who eventually settled into a role as a reliable receiver and spot starter at tailback. In 2017, despite only starting one game, he managed to rush for 570 yards, catch 51 passes, and was a key member of the 13-3 Minnesota Vikings. He scored the first touchdown of the Minnesota Miracle game. McKinnon seemed to be on the rise and drew significant interest as a free agent in the 2018 off-season. He would settle in to a four-year $30 million dollar contract with the San Francisco 49ers, and $18 million was guaranteed.
McKinnon reported to camp in 2018 and seemed poised to be the feature back for San Francisco until on September 1st, just before the season began, he tore his ACL during a routine team workout. It was a devastating blow to the San Francisco backfield, but in today’s NFL, an ACL tear is not the death knell to a speed merchant’s career it once was considered. In fact, most players make a full recovery from the injury and while they may lose a season, they rarely lose their career. McKinnon however did not make a full recovery. He suffered a setback from his knee surgery during training camp and on the last date of August in 2019, he was placed on injured reserve and watched from the sideline as San Francisco went onto represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
McKinnon’s window as a feature back for San Francisco was closed. However, after rehabbing like a madman, he made it back to the field for the team in 2020. He appeared in all 16 games and even started four games for the 6-10 San Francisco 49ers. In limited duty, he displayed that he was still a viable receiver and change of pace back and could be a valuable chess piece if used correctly. San Francisco parted with him at the end of the 2020 season, but Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs took a flyer on McKinnon, gambling his dynamic receiving ability could enhance their potent offense and signed him to a one-year $1.075 million dollar contract. He was a bit player for most of the season, appearing in 13 games mostly as a decoy and spent the last four games on injured reserve.
Why Jerick McKinnon proved he can be useful for the Steelers
The Wild Card round of the playoffs saw Kansas City forced to make McKinnon the feature back against the Steelers due to injury. He did not disappoint, flashing his 2017 form when called upon with 142 scrimmage yards and scoring the Chiefs' first touchdown which tied the game after T.J. Watt had given Steeler Nation wild eyed hope after a 26-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Steelers playoff run was finished, but Mckinnon responded in the divisional round with 78 more scrimmage yards and led the Chiefs in carries against the Buffalo Bills. In the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he was back in the feature back role and responded with 95 scrimmage yards for Kansas City. The Chiefs fell short, but Mckinnon proved that he could still be a reliable running back in today’s NFL.
Jerick McKinnon gets loose on the Steelers' defense at Arrowhead Stadium | The Kansas City Star
Mckinnon would be a great compliment to Najee Harris in Pittsburgh. He is an elusive pass catching back who should thrive in an RPO environment in spot duty, giving the Steelers a player that will create matchup issues for opposing linebackers when he is in the game. McKinnon’s injury history is very real, which should keep his asking price well within Pittsburgh’s remaining cap space. The Steelers saw firsthand in January that Mckinnon still has burst and could provide Najee Harris some valuable rest and help Mitch Trubisky check it down and pick up 2 to 3 first downs per game catching balls out of the backfield. Pittsburgh has a not-too-distant history with a former Minnesota Vikings receiving back as Mewelde Moore became a valuable piece of 2 Super Bowl teams. Mckinnon could fill the same sure handed role for the 2022 Steelers.
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