As the Steelers' running backs went through their stretching period Wednesday, Mike Tomlin looked on in earnest. He even joked with the trio as they high-stepped their way through the multiple drills.
Tomlin most certainly didn't look like a coach worried about being down to what are essentially his third, fourth and fifth options at the running back position heading into Sunday's game in Oakland.
Perhaps he knows something nobody else does.
If that's the case, the rest of us will find out Sunday. With James Conner out with a sprained ankle for at least this game and potentially longer, the Steelers will be relying on a lot of unknown commodities when they face the Raiders.
Conner, who already was subbing for Le'Veon Bell, has played 572 offensive snaps this season, more than all but Carolina's Christian McCaffrey, Washington's Adrian Peterson and the Rams' Todd Gurley. He has played 81 percent of the Steelers' snaps, more than all but five other NFL backs.
That hasn't left many rushing attempts for anyone else. Conner has gotten 76 percent of the rushing attempts for the Steelers, a percentage that climbs even higher (85 percent) when quarterback runs and kneel downs are taken out of the equation.
Only the Giants' Saquon Barkley (78) percent has handled more of his team's carries.
Despite that, there doesn't seem to be a lot of concern regarding the situation among the Steelers.
"No," Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "We’ve got our linemen and some guys that are willing to step up and fill the void."
One of those guys is Trey Edmunds, activated off the practice squad Monday, joining his brother, Terrell, on the Steelers' active roster.
Trey Edmunds will join rookie Jaylen Samuels and veteran Stevan Ridley to provide a running game for the Steelers (7-4-1) while Conner is out.
Samuels said Wednesday he will get his first career start against the Raiders (2-10), but all three running backs could get work as they did at practice Wednesday. They'll have to work hard to emulate Conner, who ranks second in the AFC with 909 rushing yards and leads the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns.
"James runs the ball so hard. You just look at his game tape every week, and you see the passion with which he plays the game," Edmunds said. "We played him in college. He’s always run like that. Then you look at Ridley and Jaylen, and you see how whenever their number is called, they answer."
They haven't had to answer the call much.
Ridley has 18 rushing attempts this season, one more than he got in his only start for the Steelers after joining them last December when Conner was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Edmunds, obviously, doesn't have a carry this season and had nine as a rookie in New Orleans last year.
Ridley got the start in the regular-season finale against Cleveland with Bell being one of a number of starters held out of that game. He rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
"Ridley is a guy that has been around the league for a while," Roethlisberger said of the eight-year veteran. "He’s got some NFL experience and has been here for a little bit now."
Samuels, meanwhile, has 12 carries this season, which matches his single-game, season-high at North Carolina State last season.
That could leave some room for Ridley and Edmunds to play a lot, as well.
"He's looked good on the practice squad," defensive end Stephon Tuitt told me of the 6-foot-2, 223-pound Edmunds. "He runs hard and has given us some good looks."
Edmunds, who ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at his pro day at Maryland — he transferred there after spending three seasons at Virginia Tech — appreciates the opportunity. And the kind words from Tuitt.
"I definitely take that as a compliment coming from a guy like him," Edmunds said. "We all know what kind of caliber of guy he is. I just try to do what I do. That’s the type of running style I’ve always had."
All running backs have had success against the Raiders this season. Oakland is allowing 153 yards rushing per game and has held just two opponents — the Dolphins and Chargers — under 100 yards. The Browns, Colts and Ravens all rushed for more than 200 yards against the Raiders.
But Oakland also has given up 29 touchdown passes, one per every 11 pass attempts against this season.
Opponents have thrown the ball early to get a lead and then run the clock out against the Raiders, the only team in the league who have had more running plays than passing attempts against them.
How that will break down for the Steelers remains to be seen.
"It's a football game," said Ridley. "Somebody is going to take the field, whether that be Jaylen, Trey or me, whoever. We've got to be ready this week."