Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell, with perfect name for a RB, is Pittsburgh savior with stats vs. Vikings

Billy Heyen

Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell, with perfect name for a RB, is Pittsburgh savior with stats vs. Vikings image

If you believe in fate: Kenneth Gainwell was destined to be a running back.

Can you think of a better name for an RB? Seriously, Gainwell. That's exactly what Kenneth did on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland as the Pittsburgh Steelers topped the Minnesota Vikings.

The Steelers were shorthanded due to a Jaylen Warren injury that came out of nowhere. Warren wasn't on the injury report until Friday, when a knee injury popped up that made him questionable. And then he didn't feel good on Saturday, so he sat out on Sunday.

Before the season, many would've expected this to be a spot for rookie Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa.

But from the season's first snap, Gainwell has been the favored back along with Warren, and so this was his show on Sunday at Croke Park in Ireland.

Gainwell certainly took advantage of his chances. The Super Bowl champion, who signed this offseason from the Philadelphia Eagles, looked comfortable and smooth all game long.

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The final stat line for Gainwell:

  • 19 carries
  • 99 rushing yards
  • 2 rushing TDs
  • 6 catches
  • 35 receiving yards

Gainwell's signing this offseason flew under the radar. It seemed he'd just be a down-the-depth-chart guy for the Steelers.

But the Steelers are now 3-1 because of Gainwell. They needed him in a big way, and he gained yards incredibly well all day long in Ireland.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle