Steelers injury updates: Russell Wilson with full workout, Jaylen Warren remains limited

Here is the Steelers Thursday practice report.

There wasn’t much change for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Thursday practice ahead of the team taking on the Las Vegas Raiders. The biggest change was the limited return of edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who is working his way back from a groin injury.

The Steelers gave multiple veteran starters another day of rest which is great for them but for a struggling team, doesn’t seem prudent. Nevertheless, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, running back Najee Harris, and defensive tackle Cam Heyward all took the day off.

Here is the full Thursday practice report.

No. 3 QB Russell Wilson (Calf) – Full
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR – Resting) – Full
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee (Ankle) – DNP
No. 30 RB Jaylen Warren (Knee) – Limited
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (NIR – Resting) – Full
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) – DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Groin) – Limited
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR – Resting) – Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee) – Limited
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) – DNP
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth (Calf) – Limited
No. 90 T.J. Watt (NIR – Resting) – Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR – Resting) – DNP
No. 98 DE DeMarvin Leal (Neck) – DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR – Resting) – Limited

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Steelers vs Raiders injury updates: Multiple players miss Wednesday practice

The Steelers had a mix of players on the Wednesday practice report.

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers got a full workout in and got their first look at the roster heading into this week’s game with the Las Vegas Raiders. 10 players sat out on Wednesday but not everything was bad news.

Quarterback Russell Wilson went through a full workout which only muddies the waters more about who head coach Mike Tomlin will start this week against the Raiders. Running back Jaylen Warren was also on the field for a limited workout, opening the door for a potential return this week.

No. 3 QB Russell Wilson (Calf) – Full
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR – Resting) – DNP
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee (Ankle) – DNP
No. 30 RB Jaylen Warren (Knee) – Limited
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (NIR – Resting) – Limited
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) – DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Groin) – DNP
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR – Resting) – DNP
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee) – Limited
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) – DNP
No. 90 T.J. Watt (NIR – Resting) – DNP
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR – Resting) – DNP
No. 98 DE DeMarvin Leal (Neck) – DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR – Resting) – DNP

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Steelers injury updates: Jaylen Warren pulled by Tomlin

Several Steelers suffered injuries in Sunday’s win over the Chargers.

After the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Mike Tomlin talked about the myriad of injuries Pittsburgh suffered over the course of the game.

The Steelers lost outside linebacker Alex Highsmith with a groin injury but his replacement Nick Herbig came in and got two sacks. Cornerback Cory Trice Jr. was lost with a hamstring injury and the unit rallied along with the Steelers pass rush to take the heat off the secondary.

Tomlin also noted that wide receiver Van Jefferson got poked in the eye but his vision cleared and he was able to return to the game. Jefferson had no targets or catches on Sunday.

In addition, Tomlin noted that running back Jaylen Warren got benched by Tomlin because of an ongoing injury issue. Warren was replaced by veteran Cordarrelle Patterson who played well down the stretch.

Next week the Steelers take on the Indianapolis Colts on the road.

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Steelers matchups to watch: Week 3 – Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren vs. Chargers’ linebackers

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren take on a triage of run-stopping linebackers in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Two of the nine undefeated teams in the NFL meet in Week 3, as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Los Angeles Chargers. The Steelers’ running backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, take on the Chargers’ run-stopping linebackers for an elite matchup to watch.  

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren ran the ball at a measly 3.5 yards a touch in Week 1.  Harris would improve to 4.1 yards a carry, while Warren would increase proficiency to 4.7 yards a carry, in Week 2.  As the offense continues to forge its identity, it is promising to see the running backs improving on every touch. 

The Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers are destroying the run this year, and it all starts with their second-year linebacker seeking his breakout season this year, Daiyan Henley.  Henley has been good against the pass and is excelling in run stoppage, veteran Denzel Perryman is reliable against the pass, and the next linebacker up, Junior Colson, is more suited for run-stopping. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers running backs will look to win the battle with the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers, in a game that will push one of these AFC teams to 3-0, all taking place on September 22nd, at 1:00 PM EST. 

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Steelers matchups to watch: Week 2 (DEN) – Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren vs. Broncos’ linebackers

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren take on a strong group of pass-coverage linebackers.

Sunday is almost here, and that can mean only one thing: rough and tough, physical Pittsburgh Steelers football. Nothing embodies that better than the Steelers’ running backs, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. The matchup between this dynamic duo and the reliable set of Denver Broncos linebackers, led by Alex Singleton, will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The Broncos’ linebacker group—Alex Singleton, Cody Barton, and Kristian Welch—is a dependable unit that excels more in pass coverage than against the run. Further proving their pass coverage abilities, Singleton also recorded an interception against the Seattle Seahawks. This may counter check-downs, screens, or routes run by the ever-dynamic Warren, but it plays directly into the Steelers’ strategy of running the football with Najee Harris.

Week 1 in Atlanta was a masterclass in rushing, but Harris and Warren weren’t exactly efficient with their attempts. Both averaged under 4 yards per carry, but that’s to be expected with new faces on the offensive line and the injury to left guard Isaac Seumalo. Harris will look to improve his efficiency in a big way against a Broncos linebackers unit that is better prepared for the pass than the run.

With Sunday’s game just a few sleeps away, some would argue that the success or failure of the Steelers’ running game hinges entirely on this matchup. Watch it for yourself on September 15th, at 4:25 pm EST.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin calls Jaylen Warren’s injury ‘a slippery slope’

Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin says that running back Jaylen Warren is healthy enough as he recovers from a preseason hamstring injury.

No football player is fully healthy at the end of an 18-week season, and the same goes on a week-to-week basis. Bumps and bruises associated with play, as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin loves to call it.

So when asked about the health of his running back Jaylen Warren in a press conference on Tuesday, Tomlin was frank: “That’s a slippery slope in the football world. He’s healthy enough, certainly.”

Aside from a first down in the first quarter, Warren was a virtual non-factor in the Steelers Week 1 win, finishing with 20 all-purpose yards on 13 snaps. Cordarrelle Patterson had four rushing attempts, while Warren had just two for seven yards.

Warren has been battling a hamstring injury since game two of the preseason, and there was doubt that he would even play in Week 1. It’s a good sign that he did, but the season is a marathon. As long as Najee Harris is producing, there’s no need to rush Warren into a more significant workload.

According to Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo, Warren had a grade 2 hamstring strain during his rookie season and only missed one game. On August 24, he told Steelers media he felt good about the injury and where he was in rehab.

Hopefully, Warren will keep progressing with the season — it’s a long road ahead.

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Steelers get boost in run game ahead of 2024 season opener

Najee Harris will have his sidekick Jaylen Warren for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

On Sunday, Najee Harris will have his sidekick for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jaylen Warren, sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury in game two of the preseason, confirmed with ESPN’s Brooke Pryor that he’ll be “good to go.”

Warren participated in individual and special team drills in practice on Monday and is expected to join team periods later this week.

The Steelers will rely heavily on the ground game as they face the three-point favorite Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Warren has been a bright spot since the Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Pittsburgh doubled his workload last season, and Warren responded with 1,154 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.

Both Harris and Warren are in the final year of their rookie contracts. The Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option in March, forcing him to prove he’s worth a big contract in 2025. Warren will be a restricted free agent.

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Steelers RB Jaylen Warren to play vs. Falcons in Week 1

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren said he expects to play against the Falcons in Week 1

The Atlanta Falcons will see some familiar faces when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town in Week 1. Former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who coached the team from 2021-2023 is the now offensive coordinator for the Steelers.

Plus, running back Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver Van Jefferson, tight end MyCole Pruitt and Scotty Miller are set to return to Atlanta for the 2024 season opener on September 8, assuming they survive Tuesday’s roster cuts. Patterson was a fan favorite but the Steelers have a stable of good running backs led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Arthur Smith loves to run the ball and it sounds like he’ll have both of his top running backs healthy when he returns to Atlanta. Warren, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, said he expects to play in Week 1.

Harris, a first-round pick in 2021, has rushed for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Warren signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and thrived as the No. 2 option behind Harris.

The former Oregon State standout has rushed for over 1,100 yards on 5.1 yards per carry in his first two NFL seasons. Warren added 89 catches for another 584 receiving yards since 2022.

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Steelers RB plans to play Week 1 vs Falcons

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren told reporters that he’ll play Week 1 of the NFL regular season against the Atlanta Falcons.

Initial reports stated that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren would be out in a few weeks, and it appears that’s the timeline.

Warren told Steelers reporters on Monday that he will play in the Sept. 8 regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.

As far as injuries go, it’s been an ideal scenario for Warren, who sustained a hamstring injury in game two of the preseason. He’s been able to rest and rehab to prepare to share the load with Najee Harris.

Cordarrelle Patterson, who did score a 31-yard touchdown on the Steelers opening drive last week, isn’t really the guy you want backing up Harris.

Warren has been a bright spot since the Steelers signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Pittsburgh doubled his workload last season, and Warren responded with 1,154 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.

Both Harris and Warren are in the final year of their rookie contracts. The Steelers declined Harris’ fifth-year option in March, forcing him to prove he’s worth a big contract in 2025. Warren will be a restricted free agent.

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Fantasy football: Where to draft Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren

Analyzing Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren’s 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren seemed to have started to settle into his role in his 2nd NFL season. Going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Warren has earned his spot in the Pittsburgh backfield. Below, we look at Jaylen Warren’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Entering 2024, Warren is expected to take another big step in his development, and we should continue to see a rise in his carries and overall stats. The fantasy upside is intriguing when looking at his draft value.

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Jaylen Warren’s ADP: 90.25

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Warren has an ADP of 90.25 in redraft leagues, which puts him in the range of the 8th to 12th round, depending on the size of the league. Warren’s ADP is lower than his backfield teammate Najee Harris (71.11).

Among running backs, Warren’s ADP puts him 31st at the position, behind Washington’s Brian Robinson Jr. (88.47), the Giants’ Devin Singletary (86.58), Denver’s Javonte Williams (81.63) and Tennessee’s Tony Pollard (73.67).

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Jaylen Warren’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 17

Carries | rushing yards: 149 | 784

Rushing touchdowns: 4

Receptions | receiving yards: 61 | 370

Receiving touchdowns: 0

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Where should you draft Warren?

Warren’s fantasy value should get a boost with the arrival of QB’s Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, whose play-making abilities will open up the Steelers’ offense and keep defenders on their heels.

With Warren’s skills on the rise and his counterpart Harris’ ability in a decline, Warren could be a sleeper in fantasy draft this season. Entering his 3rd year in the league, he should see another significant bump in production with a high upside.

Draft Warren around the 8th round, and don’t let him fall out of the 9th in 10-team leagues. When healthy, he’s good for at least 150 carries and 800-plus yards. He’s even more valuable in PPR leagues because of how often he’s targeted, grabbing 61 receptions last season.

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