Jaylen Warren faces high expectations entering the 2024 campaign. The third-year Steelers running back may see his season debut delayed, however. 
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Warren exited Pittsburgh’s preseason game against the Bills with a hamstring injury. He faces a multi-week absence as a result, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 25-year-old’s availability for Week 1 is therefore in question as the Steelers prepare for the regular season with many new faces on offense.
Pittsburgh brought in Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator this offseason, and that has led to the expectation the team will rely heavily on the run game regardless of if Russell Wilson or Justin Fields is used at quarterback. Najee Harris remains in place for at least one more season, but the Steelers declined his fifth-year option in the spring. That move leaves his future beyond 2024 uncertain, although missed time from Warren could lead to an increased workload in September.
Warren was far more efficient than Harris last season (5.3 yards per carry average vs. 4.1) and he posted 370 receiving yards. The former UDFA could be in line to take on starting duties depending on how Smith divvies up the workload in the backfield, but Harris could very well still find himself in the Steelers’ long-term plans. How the team proceeds with him next offseason will of course depend on his performance this year.
The Steelers’ receiving corps is led by George Pickens, but questions have been raised about their other options at the position as things stand. The WR outlook would change dramatically if a Brandon Aiyuk trade were to take place, although it appears the likeliest outcome in his situation would be a 49ers extension. If that were to be the conclusion to the Aiyuk saga, a strong running back tandem of Warren and Harris (with kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson in place as a depth backfield option) would be key to Pittsburgh’s success on offense. Warren missing regular season time would hurt the unit, although his absence should not linger too deep into the fall based on initial indications.
Johnathan Ward had a nice training camp and would be in line to maybe play if Warren misses time, but Ward also has a hammy problem. LaMichael Perine is also around and has experience.
I don’t know about you but there sure hasn’t been a lot to get excited over this far. This new, “rebuilt” line has looked as horrible as it’s ever been
You’re right. Ward has looked good
Just don’t know if it means much
I read about preseason for informational purposes only.
I pay zero attention to preseason games. None. They mean a lot to players and coaches, but in my opinion they should mean absolutely nothing to fans. There is no correlation between preseason results and regular season success, and what you see in preseason almost always bears no resemblance to afterwards. I would feel exactly the same way, and I’ve said the same thing, if they were undefeated and winning every preseason game by 50 points.
If the Steelers were smart they’d use Harris in the passing game a lot more than they have in the past few years.
He has gone from 93 to 53 to 38 targets out of the backfield the last 3 years. He has sure hands catching at over a 76% clip each of those seasons.
Wouldn’t surprise me to see him go off this year and have a great year being that he has a new QB, OC, and it’s a contact year.
Najee was a complete fantasy league dud for me last season. I’d stick my head in an oven before I would draft him again.
“Sticking head in the oven” is what most Steeler fans wanted to do after multiple seasons of the Canada offense.
I wouldn’t take him in fantasy either unless it’s late and you already have a stud RB1 and 2 ahead of him AND it’s a PPR league.
He’s not coming back next season so they might as well run him till his legs fall off.
Tj that’s the mike tomlin specialty usually. Set him for 300+ carries and get the full amount of usage you can get off him.
Arthur Smith loves throwing to running backs and tight ends. It’s one reason I’m not currently concerned about having a “true” number 2 WR.
This team is cooked. And I’m not saying that because of Warren.
They are in WR hell right now
No clue who will play nickel CB
Going to go with a rookie center and possibly rookie RT
MLB depth is still a question
No depth on the DL
Chasing Aiyuk and giving him 30mil a year won’t help this team.
Everyone is looking at the WR room when they have so many other holes in the roster
Am I concerned? Somewhat. Is the sky falling? Absolutely not. There is depth on the roster, but there are also a lot of roster cuts coming around the league, and the roster is going to likely look measurably different in 2 weeks, so let’s see where we are then.
I completely agree about Aiyuk, though. He could have been a nice addition but not at his price.