Pittsburgh Steelers running back Lew Nichols has signed a Reserve/Future contract for the 2026 season. After making his NFL debut in 2025, Nichols aims to build on his limited experience. The report details his college success and pro journey.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have included running back Lew Nichols on their Reserve/Future contracts for the 2026 offseason. This move comes as the team evaluates players ahead of training camp and the regular season, according to Steelers Depot's futures report published on March 21, 2026. Nichols joined the Steelers at the start of 2025 training camp after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles, effectively filling the spot left by Cordarrelle Patterson's experiment as returner and runner, which ended after one year. In college at Central Michigan, Nichols had a standout 2021 season, leading the FBS with 1,848 rushing yards and the MAC with 16 rushing scores. However, his 2022 senior year saw a decline to just over 600 yards at 3.5 yards per carry, compounded by a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at Pro Day. Selected 235th overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft, Nichols suffered a late-summer injury, landing on injured reserve before his release in early September 2023. He then spent time with the Eagles through 2023, 2024 offseason, and into 2025 training camp, where he was cut again. With the Steelers, Nichols impressed in preseason with 11 carries for 87 yards, five first downs, and a 37-yard run. Though no path existed to the 53-man roster, he joined the practice squad and debuted in Week Nine against the Indianapolis Colts, logging six special teams snaps including an assisted tackle on a kickoff. That was his only appearance in 2025. Looking to 2026, Nichols seeks more opportunities amid competition from Rice Dowdle and potentially Kaleb Johnson, bringing added special teams value as a kick coverage player and returner.
