Steelers RB Kalen Ballage has potential to be total package

He looks every bit the 230 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame. He’s been clocked in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash. He put his name in the record books in college.

It’s easy to see why NFL teams would think Kalen Ballage could be a star.

But on his fourth team in four seasons, Ballage at this point will settle for making the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-opening 53-man roster.

“I think I have a very special skillset in myself,” Ballage said via video conference after Tuesday’s training-camp practice at Heinz Field. “I don’t think there’s a lot of guys who are my size who are able to move the way I move. And I think I can add to the passing game, and I feel like I can pass protect well, so I feel like in all areas I add something and bring something to the table.”

Ballage certainly stands out in practice settings, having the look as a clear No. 2 to first-round rookie Najee Harris when using the “eye test” to evaluate the Steelers’ running back depth chart. Ballage also ran hard during the Steelers’ preseason-opening victory Aug. 5, scoring a touchdown among 19 rushing yards on five carries — although Ballage looked better than that. He had a 9-yard carry negated by penalty and another that was capped at 4 yards because it ended up with touchdown.

Touchdowns are back!

Kalen Ballage muscles in the first of the preseason. @steelers

????: @ProFootballHOF Game on FOX pic.twitter.com/eBq0iOpT06

— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2021

Ballage suffered an injury late in that contest against the Dallas Cowboys, so he missed the next game and more than a week’s worth of camp practices.

“I thought he’s had some good moments,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “Man, we’re excited to get him back out there. He’s missed a block of time that is obviously significant in this process, but he’s still got time to make up ground and it was good to have him back out there working.”

Ballage is in a battle for roster spots and playing time with holdovers Anthony McFarland, Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds, as well as first-year players Tony Brooks-James and Pete Guerriero.

Of that group, Ballage and McFarland would seem to have the best chance to contribute on offense behind Harris, although Edmunds is liked by the coaching staff for his special teams contributions.

Ballage started six games over two seasons (110 carries, 326 yards, 4 touchdowns, 23 catches) with Miami after the Dolphins took him in the fourth round in 2018. His 2019 season, by one statistic, was the worst by a running back in NFL history: a 1.8-yard average on 74 carries.

He spent last season with the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 303 rushing yards on 91 carries over 11 games.His tenure with the Jets lasted 20 days early last season.

Kalen Ballage with a 4.46 40. pic.twitter.com/UqQtGHqphI

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) March 2, 2018

The Steelers signed him to a one-year contract in March. Ballage couldn’t or wouldn’t say what role coaches have told him to expect, but a possible scenario is Ballage wins the backup job over Snell, with McFarland more of a package player behind Harris.

“I have come in, and I feel like I have done what I can do to show the coaches what I am capable of,” Ballage said. “Unfortunately, I had an injury kept me sidelined for a little bit, but now I am back, feeling healthy and feeling great moving forward.”

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