How Steelers’ Jaylen Warren Is Preparing For Larger Backfield Workload

Jaylen Warren is ready to handle an increased role with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

Following four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Najee Harris left Pittsburgh to join the Los Angeles Chargers. That creates a massive void in the Steelers’ backfield, as Harris has tallied the NFL’s second-most carries behind Derrick Henry since 2021.

Most of those vacated touches could fall to Warren, who’s ready for the brighter spotlight. The 26-year-old explained how he’s prepared to shoulder a heavier burden in 2025.

“I approached this offseason differently,” Warren said during the team’s mandatory minicamp, per Steelers.com’s Dale Lolley. “I did a lot more things for longevity-wise, instead of my old-school training, like just getting the cleats on and running 30 hills. I had to adapt. This game is about longevity. And like they say, the best ability is availability.”

To that point, Harris never missed a game for the Steelers. As a result, Warren’s single-game carry count has peaked at 15 over three seasons in Pittsburgh.

Yet Warren has made his opportunities count, averaging 4.8 yards per rush and catching 82.5 percent of his targets. The 5-foot-8 back made a push for Pittsburgh’s featured role when tallying 1,154 scrimmage yards on 210 touches in 2023, but those numbers dwindled to 831 yards on 158 touches in 15 games last season.

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith recently suggested the Steelers could dial up more passing plays behind the newly acquired Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf. However, he still anticipates plenty of handoffs for a team that ranked fourth with 533 rushing attempts in 2024.

“Generally you’ve got 500-plus carries in a regular season,” Smith said. “You’re talking about 1,100 snaps. You would like to be on the plus side of 500. That means you’re in more four-minute. Let’s leave it at 500 carries to divvy up. That’s kind of where you’re at. Then obviously losing Naj (Harris), Naj for four years here, he was very durable, and that’s a lot of missing carries.”

The Steelers added some competition by signing Trey Sermon and Kenneth Gainwell while drafting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round. Warren’s time with Pittsburgh may nevertheless give him the inside track on topping the depth chart for head coach Mike Tomlin.

When asked if he thinks Warren can handle a higher volume, Tomlin succintly replied: “Certainly.”

Warren is also confident that he can deliver as Pittsburgh’s lead back.

“No doubt about it,” he said, “and that’s the way I’m training.”

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