With Le'Veon Bell now officially out of Pittsburgh, James Conner can comfortably take over as the Steelers' featured running back, and he is working hard to make sure he is ready to assume the role.

Conner has been in the gym with his good friend, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, as he prepares for the 2019 campaign:

Conner is coming off of a 2018 campaign in which he played 12 games, missing some time during the second half of the season due to an ankle issue. During the time he was on the field, he was impressive, rushing for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 55 receptions for 497 yards and a score en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.

Related NewsArticle continues below
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) gestures towards the Miami Dolphins bench during the second half at MetLife Stadium.
Steelers rumors: How Aaron Rodgers situation impacted Week 1 game vs. Jets
Featured image Kirk Cousins
Insider shares Steelers’ view on Kirk Cousins as Aaron Rodgers backup plan
Oct 13, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs (87) celebrates with wide receivers Christian Watson (9) and Jayden Reed (11) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
NFL rumors: Albert Breer doubles down on possible Steelers-Packers trade

The 23-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of Pittsburgh, was originally selected by the Steelers in the third round (105th pick overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He saw limited action behind Bell during his rookie campaign, finishing with just 144 yards on 32 carries.

But now, with Bell suiting up for the New York Jets and Antonio Brown in the Bay playing for the Raiders, James Conner will likely become the main focus of Pittsburgh's offense, and he is obviously making sure he is up to the task.

The Steelers went 9-6-1 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013 this past season in spite of a 7-2-1 start. Locker room issues derailed Pittsburgh during the latter half of the year, which also broke a four-year streak of doubled-digit wins.