Who Should I Start? Jonathan Ward or Frank Gore Jr.

Thursday, June 19, 3:13 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran running back Jonathan Ward on Thursday, the team announced on X. After signing with the organization last offseason, Ward spent the 2024 campaign rotating between the active roster and the practice squad. He appeared in four contests, totaling five carries for 22 yards. The undrafted free agent in 2020 out of Central Michigan has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and Steelers during his five-year NFL career, compiling 91 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards with one total touchdown. The 27-year-old could find his way on an active roster for another team, but he'll likely have to make his mark on special teams.

Saturday, August 23, 11:50 PM

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. led the Bills in yards from scrimmage for the third straight week in a 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Gore amassed 61 total yards (32 rushing, 29 receiving) on 10 carries and two catches, and he scored his lone touchdown of the preseason on a one-yard run in the first quarter. In all, the hard-running 23-year-old piled up 104 yards on the ground on 23 attempts and hauled in 11 catches for another 109 yards in three preseason contests. Even though Gore stood out in Buffalo's exhibition games, he doesn't have a clear path to a roster spot with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart. Odds are that the former Southern Miss standout will either wind up on the Bills' practice squad for the second year in a row or join another team via waivers before the season. He made a compelling case that he's an NFL-caliber back during the preseason.