Steelers Finish Free Agency With Signing Of Mark Fletcher Jr.
Pittsburgh, PA. - =The Pittsburgh Steelers closed out their free agency period quietly Monday, signing former Detroit Lions running back Mark Fletcher Jr. to fill the backfield void created by the trade of Rueben Owens earlier in the week.
Fletcher Jr. spent the majority of his career backing up Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit after being selected in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but flashed genuine starter-caliber ability during the 2028 season when Gibbs was sidelined with an injury. In his most extended opportunity as a professional, Fletcher Jr. rushed for 537 yards on 153 carries and found the end zone eight times — a sample size small enough to warrant caution but compelling enough to keep him on NFL rosters ever since.
Scheelhaase was direct about what Fletcher Jr. brings to a backfield that already features the explosive Juan Steward as its primary weapon.
"Mark is a physical runner who fights through contact and plays to the whistle," Scheelhaase said. "He's an excellent change of pace from Juan's explosiveness, and we're confident he can contribute right away."
The signing brings Pittsburgh's free agency activity to a close — a deliberately restrained period bookended by the blockbuster Allen trade that consumed the bulk of the organization's financial energy and attention. The Steelers were never going to be lavish spenders this offseason, and they weren't. The additions of Denzel Ward, Trenton Simpson, and Fletcher Jr. addressed specific depth needs without overextending a cap sheet already stretched by Allen's contract and the restructures required to make the trade possible.
What Pittsburgh does retain heading into April is a draft capital portfolio that remains surprisingly robust despite the cost of acquiring Allen. The Steelers own their own first-round pick, two second-round selections, and at least one pick in every remaining round. It is by all accounts enough ammunition for Khan to continue adding youth and depth to a roster making one final championship push.
Steelers Free Agent Signings
LB Trenton Simpson
CB Denzel Ward
HB Mark Fletcher Jr.
