2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$6,048+47.2%1W+203%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $6,048
AGE27Nov 1, 1998
EXP4 yrssince 2022
HEIGHT5'8"
inherits 9% of PIT carries (40% vacated, his claim 22%); inherits 4% of PIT targets (56% vacated, his claim 7%)
Head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that he views Warren as "our featured player right now," Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
During the offseason, McCarthy said that he viewed the Steelers' backfield as a 50-50 split between Warren and Rico Dowdle (toe). However, Warren has solidified his RB1 role over the Steelers' last three games with Dowdle on the sidelines, with the former accumulating 490 yards and two touchdowns on 61 touches (49 carries, 12 catches on 16 targets) in that span. It appears Warren is the clear lead back for the Steelers even Dowdle returns, which could happen as soon as this Sunday against the Buccaneers.
Warren will remain the Steelers' unquestioned lead back in Sunday's Week 5 matchup against the Colts due to Rico Dowdle (toe) having been declared inactive for the contest.
Warren has thrived with the additional opportunity afforded by Dowdle's two-game absence to date, as the former has logged 23 total touches apiece in each contest and compiled 302 scrimmage yards in the process. Warren should be in store for a similar workload Sunday against a Colts defense that's surrendered 4.3 yards per carry and 11.1 yards per reception to running backs through four games.
Warren rushed 17 times for 93 yards and secured three of six targets for 33 yards in the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Browns on Thursday.
Everyone sharing the ball with Jaylen, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Warren once again had near total control of the Steelers' ground attack, as Rico Dowdle (toe) missed a second consecutive contest. As he'd done in the Week 3 win over the Bengals, Warren capitalized on the opportunity to comfortably eclipse the century mark in total yards. Warren compiled 220 rushing yards and another 82 yards through the air over the last two games while serving as the unquestioned lead back, but if Dowdle is able to make it back for a Week 5 matchup against the Colts on Sunday, Oct. 11, the former will see a hit to his touches.
Warren (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
A limited participant throughout Week 3 prep before being deemed questionable heading into Sunday, Warren ultimately received the green light to play. After splitting the snaps and touches out of the backfield fairly equitably with Rico Dowdle this season before Dowdle missed the entire fourth quarter of the Week 2 loss to the Patriots with a toe injury, Warren could be primed for a workhorse role in Week 3. Dowdle won't be available against the Bengals, leaving Travis Homer and Lew Nichols as the available depth options behind Warren, who played every offensive snap in the fourth quarter last week while Dowdle was sidelined.
Warren (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Week 3, is expected to play Sunday versus the Bengals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Warren was limited during the entirety of Week 3 prep due to a shoulder injury, while fellow running back Rico Dowdle was ruled out for Sunday as a result of a toe issue. Assuming Warren is deemed active approximately 90 minutes before a 1 p.m. ET kickoff, he should be the primary backfield option for the Steelers offense, while Eli Heidenreich and practice-squad members Travis Homer and Lew Nichols likely will be the complementary options.
Warren rushed 11 times for 43 yards and caught two of four targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Patriots.
Warren led the team in rushing yards and came one receiving yard shy of Germie Bernard's team lead in a game that fellow Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (toe) exited in the second quarter. If Dowdle isn't ready to play in Week 3, Warren would be in line for a heavy workload against the Bengals. Warren has 150 scrimmage yards on 28 touches through two games, which is a similar level of per-game production to the 2025 regular season, but he has yet to score in 2026 after posting eight total touchdowns last season.
The RBs priced immediately above and below him.
