Kalen Ballage signs one-year deal with the Steelers

After providing a welcomed mid-season spark to the offense this past season, running back Kalen Ballage will be playing else where in 2021 as it was just reported that the versatile back will be signing a one-year deal with the Steelers.

Ballage was signed by the Chargers following Austin Ekeler’s severe hamstring in Week 4 of the 2020 season. In his first game for the Bolts, he rushed 15 times for 69 yards and a touchdown. The next week, he took a season-high 18 carries for 64 yards and caught five passes for an additional 34 yards. By the end of the season, he had accounted for 290 rushing yards (3.30 YPC) and three touchdowns to go along with 99 receiving yards.

With Ballage now out of the potential backfield picture in 2021, Austin Ekeler will once again be backed up by both Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelley. However, with Jackson’s well-documented injury history and Kelley’s extremely inefficient rookie season, don’t be surprised to see the Chargers draft another running back that fits more of what Brandon Staley wants for his and Joe Lombardi’s offense.