James Conner expects to play Sunday, Steelers running backs talk wildcat

James Conner didn't miss snaps during the Steelers first win of the season. As Pittsburgh's offense routed the Bengals to a 27-3 win, Conner totaled 125 points and a touchdown. But as practice started on Wednesday, Conner wasn't on the field, and remained off it until Friday.

Conner's missed time was due to an ankle injury. The running back has dealt with a number of issues regarding his ankle, missing a number of games over the last two years, including three in 2018.

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It's an injury that will linger throughout Conner's career, and according to the running back, is the reason he's spent this week resting. "You just got to rest it a little bit," Conner said. "It calmed down a little bit, so I was able to practice a little bit and feel good."

As for Week 5, Conner answered the question, "do you expect to play?" with a quick and simple head nod.

Conner, like the rest of the team, has one focus - the Ravens. The Steelers have held their season together with a win over the Bengals. Now, they set themselves up for a shot at a divisional lead with a win over Baltimore, and some help from the 49ers.

"The saying always goes, 'it's always the most important thing because it's the next thing,'" Conner said. "So, it's a divisional game; the Ravens are a familiar opponent. You know, the type of game that's gonna be another physical one."

The Ravens' defense looks different from last season. The team has moved on from star players like C.J. Mosley and Terrell Suggs, but despite the changes, Baltimore remains one of the most physical defenses in the NFL.

"They lost some pieces but they still have, you know; 99 is playing great, their linebackers they have a talented core group," Conner said. "They have a veteran in Earl Thomas. Humphries is playing really good. A solid defense. Some pieces left but other guys stepped up, so it'll be a good opportunity for us."

Then, there's the question everyone has been asking all week - how much wildcat will be used moving forward. Conner and Jaylen Samuels combined for 239 yards and 2 scores, leaving all eyes on the new offensive scheme the Steelers utilized in Week 4.

Much of the success comes from the chemistry between the running backs. Conner and Samuels are clicking, and need to be moving forward, and it's become a major factor in the new-found success between the two.

"I think it starts with having a good relationship off the field," Conner said. "He [Samuels] brings a lot of passion and energy, so I like it when we're out there together."

For the wildcat - the Steelers have talked all week about implementing it into their offense moving forward. It's never an answer for every game, and the team knows that. That won't stop them from adding some gimmicks to their gameplan, though.

"You've got possibilities and different options with keep it or giving it," Conner said. "I think it's new. We didn't show it a lot in the past, so I think if we execute it right - it's always about what we do in execution, not about the defense and what looks they give us, but how we execute - so, as long as we continue to execute I think we'll be successful."

The other half of the formation, Jaylen Samuels, says the team continues to work the wildcat into their offense following the success it had on Monday night.

"It worked last week. We've been practicing on it this week a little bit, so hopefully we can go out there and do the same thing we did last week, execution wise," Samuels said. "Whatever Randy cooks up for us, we just got to out there and execute."

Samuels says the formation works because of the offense's ability to move the defense. The motions, different options and the threat of a versatile running back in Samuels allows the Steelers to keep defenses on their toes. "We had a lot of motions and different stuff going on throughout the plays, just to get the defense's eyes moving," Samuels said.

Don't fix what's broken could be the Steelers motto moving forward. After finding a glimpse of light in Week 4, the wildcat could be the spark that continues to keep this running game moving.

"We can just do different things out of it," Samuels said. "I think that's what got our running game going last game."