Trey Edmunds shows value in first action of season for Steelers

Chris Adamski
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 8:35 a.m. | Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 8:35 a.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree rushes against running back Trey Edmunds in the backs on backers drill during practice Sunday, July 28, 2019 at Saint Vincent College. Edmunds played in his first regular-season game of 2019 last week at Los Angeles.

Trey Edmunds did not play a snap on offense during his 2019 regular-season debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the running-back-by-trade showed why the organization values him.

“As coach (Mike) Tomlin says, he’s varsity special teamer,” Steelers running backs coach Eddie Faulkner said of Edmunds. “And that’s what’s kept him around.”

With Jaylen Samuels out because of a knee injury, the Steelers promoted Edmunds from their practice squad to serve as the No. 3 running back during last week’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Though the performances of James Conner and Benny Snell rendered the need for any other runners moot, Edmunds did play 17 special-teams snaps. Only Ulysees Gilbert played more for the Steelers.

Edmunds’ biggest impact was on the Chargers’ onsides kick in the final minutes when Edmunds occupied two Los Angeles players, allowing Cameron Sutton to leap to secure the ball and allow the Steelers to maintain possession.

Faulkner, unsolicited, brought the play up. Edmunds downplayed his efforts on the sequence.

“It wasn’t by accident that I made the block like that, for sure, but it was designed like that to be executed,” Edmunds said. “Everybody executed their part. That was just my part.”

Trey Edmunds takes off down the sideline for his 1st NFL TD!

Franchise record 6️⃣ rushing touchdowns today.#SaintsGameday | #NOvsBUF pic.twitter.com/a8GRlmCWF3

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 12, 2017

The older brother of starting Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds, Trey Edmunds probably won’t be used all that much as a ball-carrier outside of injury emergencies or blowouts. But during training camp, Edmunds had the look of a strong runner, and Faulkner said the Steelers won’t shy away from using him on offense should the need arise.

“Trey is a trustworthy guy,” Faulkner said. “I don’t have any problem with putting him in the game and knowing he’s gonna do what he needs to do.”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.