Steelers Host Former 49ers 3rd Round Draft Pick At Rookie Mini Camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back on the football field as the team begins their three-day rookie minicamp for 2025 on Friday. The team will have their 15 rookies participating for the first time, also including 25 other players that were given an invite to tryout. After the trade of George Pickens, the Steelers may want to emphasize the run in the offense under Arthur Smith in 2025, which means all hands on deck will be needed at the running back position. In the group of invited players to tryout, an explosive running back who has already ran all over the Steelers once, stands out. 

Trey Sermon is listed as "tryout player," along other "1st year" and "rookie" players for the Steelers. Sermon was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Ohio State by the San Francisco 49ers. In his rookie season, Sermon served as the 49ers' third string back, having a quiet opening year. The 49ers drafted Jordan Mason, who eventually replaced an injured Christian McCaffrey the following year in 2022. With Mason in the room, Sermon became the odd man out and was forced to find a new team. 

By 2024, Sermon found himself as the Indianapolis Colts' number two behind Jonathan Taylor. Sermon started with the Colts in 2023, but was also behind Zack Moss. Arguably Sermon's best professional outing actually came against the Steelers two seasons ago. Averaging over five yards each carry, Sermon ran the ball 17 times against Pittsburgh for 88 yards, breaking his longest run for 19 yards. This game occurred during the Steelers' horrendous three-game skid at the end of the 2023 season where they lost to some of the worst teams in all of football after the final appearance of Kenny Pickett in a Steelers uniform.

Sermon's time with the Colts ran out after 2024. He's been unable to stay consistently healthy and find a solidified role for himself with a team. The Steelers already have Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, and rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson, but Sermon could give the Steelers a reason to add him to the room. In his final collegiate season with Ohio State, Sermon took over 100 carries for over 800 yards and four rushing touchdowns. 

In 2020, the Buckeyes found themselves in the Big Ten Championship game against Northwestern. With former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields under center and missing his top two receivers, and the Buckeyes' starting running back getting injured early in the game, Sermon was given all of the touches in a critical time. He would end up breaking the school's record for most rushing yards in a single game in program history. He carried the ball 29 times for 331 yards, and also scored two touchdowns for the Buckeyes.

The Steelers may have a tight running back room at the moment, especially until the team decides to release Cordarrelle Patterson, but Sermon could provide something in Smith's run-heavy offense in 2025. 

The Steelers Are Ready To Consistently Run The Football Effectively In 2025

The Steelers let Najee Harris sign elsewhere in the conference this offseason, but the new running back group in Pittsburgh this season is explosive. Many fans were calling for Warren to get more snaps than Harris previously, and that wish will come to fruition in 2025, along with Johnson and Gainwell backing him up to start. 

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, the Steelers wanted to be one of the higher-echelon teams that can run the ball consistently and effectively. They haven't been able to do that with Harris, but that also points to the fault of the offensive line. With the offensive line seemingly in a better spot currently than recent years, the Steelers' rushing attack is set up for success this season. 

What do you think about the Steelers' running backs? Would you like to see them give Sermon a real shot at making the roster? What group do you want to see in Pittsburgh's backfield for 2025? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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