Likely to serve as Steelers RB2 this week, veteran Cordarrelle Patterson happy to play anywhere

“What the? Get out of here!”

A pair Cordarrelle Patterson’s teammates gave an overly dramatic spit-take to playfully mock him as they stood and listened to Patterson answer a media question Friday about his position versatility.

“I don’t sell myself short for anything, man. I feel like I could play any position on the football field,” Patterson said. “If my name is called, I just go out there and make a play. No matter what, if it’s on kickoff or punt, you know, (even) defense or quarterback.”

It was the latter two suggestions that compelled offensive tackle Broderick Jones and tight end Rodney Williams to offer their good-natured incredulousness.

But Patterson was unmoved. He wasn’t laughing.

“Whatever I need to do, man,” the 12-year veteran said.

“And that’s why I throw to fans (in the stands) Sundays before the game. I’m trying to show the coaches I really can, so that whenever they want to call my number, I’m ready.”

The Steelers coaching staff probably shares the suspicion that Jones and Williams do regarding Patterson lining up at quarterback or somewhere on the defense (though at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, he probably would make for a mean in-the-box hybrid safety).

But those might be the only areas Patterson can be assured of not playing for the Steelers. After all, through three games with team, he has already lined up at running back, slot receiver, wide receiver, tight end, kickoff returner and as the “gunner” on the punt-coverage team.

Take last week. The Steelers went into their home opener short a receiver (Ben Skowronek) because of injury. Because of Patterson’s veteran versatility, they felt comfortable enough giving rookie Roman Wilson another week to heal from his ankle injury, letting Patterson serve as the WR4.

Then, when Van Jefferson suffered an eye injury in the first quarter, that left Patterson as a much-used WR3.

By the time Jefferson returned to the game in the second half, though, running back Jaylen Warren was out of it because of a knee injury. So, Patterson all of a sudden became a running back.

“I don’t sell myself short for anything,” Patterson said. “The more you can do, the more you stay around in this league. I’m just I’m so thankful God gave me the opportunity to be ready and willing to just play in any position.”

Patterson entered the NFL as Minnesota’s 2013 first-round pick — as a wide receiver. By his sixth season, he won a Super Bowl ring with New England and had twice as many carries (42) as catches (21). When he joined his fifth team in 2021, current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was likewise arriving in Atlanta as its new head coach.

Patterson followed Smith to Pittsburgh this spring.

“He can do multiple jobs,” Smith said. “So if you’re short wideouts or tight ends or backs, you’re talking about a valuable game-day rostered player. That’s your problem-solver.”

This week, Patterson’s No. 1 job during Sunday’s game at the Indianapolis Colts will be the role of No. 2 running back. Jaylen Warren is out with an injury, and there are no other running backs on the active roster aside from starter Najee Harris.

“He’s just a good player,” Harris said, “so what he brings to the table is something obviously (opponents) have to key in on.”

Harris referenced Patterson as “a future Hall of Famer.” That’s a nod to Patterson’s prowess and resume at the thing he was presumed to do most for the Steelers: return kickoffs.

But through three games, Patterson has yet to do that even once. That’s in part because opposing coaches have instructed their kickers to boot the ball out of the back of the end zone — the resulting field position at the 30-yard line, be dammed — rather than give Patterson a chance to add to his NFL-record nine career kickoff return touchdowns.

“If I was a kicker, I wouldn’t be kicking to me either,” Patterson said. “If they want to kick it to me — kick it to one of the best in the league — go ahead.”

If that sounds like bravado, well, it is. But don’t mistake it for an arrogant conceit that Patterson believes he’s above anything. After all, remember, he was happy to serve on the punt-coverage team two weeks ago — a role most 33-year-old, four-time former Pro Bowlers would see as beneath them.

“A lot of guys got too much pride in this NFL, man,” Patterson said. “Some guys don’t want to play special teams.

“Football is just something I have been doing my whole life, and I can’t get enough of it. Like, I want to play. So wherever Coach needs me, I’m going to go out — no matter where it is.”