Steelers’ Jaylen Warren Admits To Stepping Up His Game Against The Impressive Rookie Payton Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting into the thick of things in training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, and the media is scrutinizing every play. The offense is particularly interesting since the Steelers have a new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith. They have been building up their offensive line the past couple of offseasons and brought in all new quarterbacks. 

The Steelers have always been known for their run-heavy offense, but Smith is expected to take it to the next level in 2024. They have been predominately using two running backs for the past couple of seasons: Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. While Harris and Warren have displayed significant talent, the previous offensive play-calling was weak, the offensive line frequently collapsed, and the quarterbacks struggled to move the ball down the field consistently.

During camp, all eyes are on that new and improved offensive line to see if the running backs are better able to pick up yards. That certainly seemed to be the case with Warren on Tuesday as he went up against rookie linebacker Payton Wilson in one on one drills. Once Wilson got the best of Warren and spun him around, Warren said he quickly recovered, and on the next play, he was able to lay Wilson out. In a video shared by 93.7 The Fan, Warren described what it was like going against Wilson. 

"I mean, he brought it, but I know he was gonna bring it, so I had to bring it," said Warren. "He's a strong dude - I have known that - so I had to bring my best."

With the change in coordinator, both Harris and Warren have the opportunity to put up career-level numbers this season. This second week of camp is the first time that the players are in pads, so the physicality is ramping up. That is especially true during seven shots and the backs-on-backers drills, which are well known for their brutal intensity. 

During Tuesday's drills, Warren showed off his low center of gravity. He was able to stop not just Wilson, but also new inside linebacker Patrick Queen. Warren has shown those same skills during the regular season since joining the Black and Gold as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022. He is not just a powerful runner, but also an excellent blocker for his teammates. Warren is in the final year of his contract, and so is Harris. The team will have some big decisions about who to pay at the end of the season. 

Who Will The Steelers Keep In The Running Back Room?

The Steelers declined to extend Harris' rookie contract this offseason, which has been a polarizing decision among the fan base. To many, it seemed logical to keep Harris for $6.79 million for 2025, thinking it would be hard to find another running back with his talent for less than that. Harris has had some struggles on the field, but he has had more than 1,000 yards each of his pro seasons.

Harris told the media that he was told the team wasn't sure exactly what direction the offense was going, and that is why they declined to extend him. Head Coach Mike Tomlin chose to dodge making any real comment on what Harris said, which shouldn't surprise anyone. 

Many fans believe Warren is the superior running back and feel the team should keep him in 2025 and allow Harris to go elsewhere. The decision to use both running backs the past few years hasn't necessarily been because Harris, a former first-round draft pick, isn't good enough to do the job independently. They have different talents, and utilizing both of them has allowed the offense to be more successful. How the offense runs under Smith this season will likely determine what they choose to do.

What do you think about Warren as a running back? Click to comment below. 

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