As he trains maniacally this offseason, working out several hours a day for six days a week, James Conner keeps one goal at the forefront of his thoughts.

It isn’t the possibility of a contract that could await him in free agency next March if he puts up a 1,000-yard rushing season.

It’s not trying to play a full slate of 16 games for the first time in four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity to win,” Conner said Tuesday on a Zoom conference call with reporters. “I’m not playing for a contract or not playing not to get hurt. I’m playing to win.”

Winning is something the Steelers haven’t done consistently in Conner’s two seasons as the team’s featured running back. Not only did the Steelers miss the playoffs each season, they slumped in December while Conner spent crucial games watching from the sideline.

In 2018, when Conner rushed for a career-high 973 yards, he missed a three-game stretch that included losses at Oakland and New Orleans. Although Conner returned for the finale, the Steelers finished 9-6-1 and out of the playoffs.

Last year, Conner didn’t return after halftime of a must-win game at the New York Jets. He was inactive the following week at Baltimore as the Steelers lost their third in a row to finish 8-8. Overall, he missed six full games and parts of two others.

With those thigh and shoulder injuries in the past, Conner is setting his sights on helping the Steelers to the playoffs — and contributing. In 2017, when the Steelers were upset in the divisional round by Jacksonville, Conner was on injured reserve.

“It’s as simple as that,” Conner said. “I have visions of us, me being part of Super Bowl No. 7 for this organization. I try to live a healthy lifestyle, and I know that will translate to the football field the more work I put my body through.”

Conner has used the coronavirus pandemic to his advantage. The outbreak forced him to cancel some vacations, and he has spent the past three months in the weight room, as several recent social media posts confirmed.

“As soon as the quarantine started, I made a decision to every day try to get a little better and take advantage of this down time that we have,” he said. “I’m going pretty hard.”

With Conner limited to 10 games last season and the team hindered by second-string and third-string quarterbacks getting the snaps for most of the season, the Steelers finished with the No. 29-ranked rushing offense. Conner’s 464 yards were the fewest by a Steelers team leader since 1967.

Rookie Benny Snell got most of the carries in Conner’s absence and finished with 426 yards, but general manager Kevin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin were quick to label Conner the incumbent heading into 2020. The Steelers didn’t sign a veteran running back in free agency and chose change-of-pace back Anthony McFarland in the fourth round.

Conner is approaching the job as an open competition.

“You have to prove it day-in and day-out,” he said. “We’re getting evaluated every day. I threw last year behind me. There’s nothing I can do to get last year back. I’m working every day as hard as possible to be in the best shape I can be to be the best football player I can be.

“When I step on the field this year, I’m going to give everything I have. That’s just my mindset. I’m not trying to make it bigger than it is.”

Conner doesn’t want to blow his contract situation out of proportion, either. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal, one that includes $825,000 in base salary. The Steelers haven’t approached Conner about an extension, and, given his injury history, they aren’t expected to before the start of the season.

“That’s the game,” Conner said. “I want to do a lot more and give a lot more to this organization. I trust the Lord’s timing, so I’m not concerned about an extension. I know I have another year left on my contract. I’m doing everything I’ve got for one more year, and we’ll see what happens after that. I’m going to ball out, play football and play to the best of my ability.”

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