It took until the last couple days of March, but the Steelers made an addition to their backfield for 2021.
Kalen Ballage, a three-year NFL veteran who has spent time with the Dolphins, Jets and Chargers, signed a one-year deal, the team announced Tuesday. Ballage, 25, is a 6-foot-2, 231-pound running back who was a fourth-round pick of Miami in 2018 out of Arizona State.
The Dolphins used him sparingly his first two seasons, though he did start six games in 2019. Ballage rushed for just 191 yards as a rookie and 135 the next year, averaging 3 yards per carry. Miami cut him last September after trying to trade him to the Jets, who eventually signed Ballage shortly thereafter.
But he didn’t last long in New York, either, and was released after three games. He had just three rushing attempts there but was more productive as a pass-catcher, hauling in nine receptions for 67 yards.
Oddly enough, 2020 turned out to be Ballage’s best season to date, as he latched on with the Chargers practice squad and found some success out west as an injury replacement. He played in eight games and started two, ultimately being signed to the active roster. Ballage never rushed for more than 69 yards in a game, as he was part of a committee, but finished the year with a career-high 303 yards and three scores on 91 carries. He also caught 29 passes for 166 yards.
Ballage was an intriguing prospect coming out of college, running a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. That hasn’t translated to much in the pros, but the Steelers at least want to take a longer look at him now that James Conner’s time in Pittsburgh has ended. A running back in the early rounds of the draft still seems like a priority for a franchise with the league’s reigning last-place ground game.
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: March 30, 2021, 3:22 p.m.
