Steelers rookies Benny Snell, Kerrith Whyte ready to take over again for injured James Conner

With James Conner unable to finish the regular season with a thigh injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers will turn back to a committee approach Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jaylen Samuels, Trey Edmunds and rookies Benny Snell Jr. and Kerrith Whyte will fill various roles if the Steelers stick to the script they used in previous games that Conner missed.

Snell has started once in 12 games and rushed for a career-high 98 yards on 21 attempts Nov. 24 at Cincinnati. He also was the primary runner the next two weeks while Conner sat out with a shoulder injury.

“The mentality, everything stays the same,” Snell said Friday. “Nothing really ever changes. It’s just an opportunity to show what I can do.”

Snell is second on the Steelers with 335 rushing yards. Samuels leads all running backs with 46 receptions, and Whyte has averaged 5.8 yards on 21 carries since he was signed off the Chicago Bears practice squad in November.

“Whatever the team calls me for, I’ll be ready,” Whyte said. “I’m a change-of-pace back. When I come in, I try to make something happen and provide a spark for the team.”

The Steelers tend to fare better without their starting running back in the lineup. Their record with Conner is 3-7. They are 5-0 when he sits out.

Conner was one of two players ruled out from playing Sunday against the Ravens. Center Maurkice Pouncey didn’t practice all week because of a knee injury and was declared out Tuesday by coach Mike Tomlin.

All other players practiced Friday and are available to play against Baltimore as the Steelers try to earn the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs.

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