The Pittsburgh Steelers have provided a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for fans through the first four weeks of the 2026 season. It feels as though the team has still not been able to put together a complete game, but the group sits with a record of 2-2 heading into Week 5. There have been times where the offense has been completely dormant, but the group has also looked fantastic at times, particularly against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. The unit took a step back in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns, and there is a chance to bounce back against the Indianapolis Colts this week as Indianapolis has one of the worst defenses in the league.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) pitches to running back Jaylen Warren (30) in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 3 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Throughout the first two weeks of the season, the Steelers seemed to really struggle when it came to running the football, but that changed in Week 3 as Jaylen Warren had one of the best games of his professional career. He has seen more touches over the last two weeks as Rico Dowdle has been out due to a toe injury, and his status is currently up in the air for Week 5. However, it is clear that the backfield should not be a 50/50 split when he returns due to the way that Warren has played in his absence.
Beat writer Ray Fittipaldo spoke about Warren and the running game during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday, and he shared
"Rico Dowdle may be back soon," Fittipaldo said. "But, even when he does come back, I know it's going to be like it has been while Dowdle's been out, but to me, Jaylen Warren has earned the right to get 70-75 percent of the touches on offense just because he has been your entire offense up until this point of the season. Why would you go away from that?"
Over Pittsburgh's last two games, Warren has been more of a focal point in the offense. In those two games, he has run the ball 34 times for a total of 220 yards, which means he is averaging nearly 6.5 yards per carry. That is something the Steelers have to take advantage of.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren runs the ball during Week 4 matchup against the Browns in October 2026.
Not to mention, he has also caught six passes in those two games for a total of 82 yards. The only thing he is missing is a touchdown.
Steelers Need To Use Jaylen Warren More In The Passing Game
Warren has been electric when he touches the football, and it seems like the offense is still not getting him the ball enough. It is important not to run him into the ground at this point of the year, but in a lot of ways he has been Pittsburgh's entire offense. Fittipaldo spoke more about how he could be used.
"Yeah, as a runner and as a receiver too," Fittipaldo said. "They're not overusing him as a receiver. I think there's more there. I just mentioned how Rodgers is taking some deep shots on third downs. A lot of times, your best option is just to get the ball in his hands. He is one of the few guys on offense that can make guys miss at the line of scrimmage and turn a three-yard gain into a five or eight-yard gain."
It is clear that Fittipaldo wants to see more of Warren on offense, as does the rest of the fan base. It was speculated that he and Dowdle would be splitting the touches out of the backfield in 2026, but that cannot be the case anymore after the way Warren has performed over the last two weeks. Warren is also one of the best backs in the league when it comes to pass protection, which is important when a 42-year old quarterback is lining up behind center.
What do you think about Warren getting more touches? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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