PITTSBURGH — Running back Jaylen Warren delivered a historic performance Sunday to propel the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, drawing effusive praise and media critique from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
With fellow running back Rico Dowdle sidelined by a toe injury sustained in Week 2, Warren stepped into the primary role and posted a career-high 188 yards from scrimmage. He carried the ball 15 times for 101 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run, and caught six passes for a team-leading 87 yards, highlighted by an 80-yard scoring reception, according to reports from Heavy and ClutchPoints.
Warren became the first NFL player to register both an 80-yard touchdown catch and a 50-yard touchdown run in the same contest since Herschel Walker accomplished the feat in 1986, Heavy reported. According to ESPN Insights data cited by Roundtable Sports, Warren also became the first player in Steelers franchise history to score both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown of 50 or more yards in a single game.
Rodgers calls out national attention
Rodgers, who completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, lauded Warren’s running style and work ethic during his postgame comments, while taking aim at commentators who overlook his teammate.
“He’s just such a slippery player. First guy rarely brings him down. He’s good inside the tackles, good outside the tackles,” Rodgers said, according to Heavy. “Always moving forward, always spinning, slipping out of plays, finishing runs. He’s one of the most liked players on the team, so guys want to block for him on the offensive line, and the tight ends and receivers.”
When questioned about why Warren has not garnered broader national recognition despite producing three straight games with at least 125 yards from scrimmage, Rodgers criticized the coverage choices made by commentators.
“Yeah, but I mean, they have their favorites and people they want to talk about. It is what it is,” Rodgers said, as reported by Heavy. The veteran quarterback added that while he does not track social media discussions, Warren deserves far more attention across the league.
Offensive line reshuffle fuels surge
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also praised the running back’s versatility, calling him “everything they needed him to be today,” according to ClutchPoints.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy credited the offensive continuity and Warren’s determination, while noting that the team anticipates Dowdle returning to form a complementary backfield duo. Last Word on Sports reported that McCarthy altered the right side of the offensive line after a Week 2 loss, inserting Brock Hoffman and Max Iheanachor in place of Spencer Anderson and Dylan Cook. In the three games since, the Steelers offense has produced an average of 29.3 points per contest.
“I think our o-line is coming together nicely,” McCarthy said postgame, according to Last Word on Sports. “I love their temperament, their personality; you’re starting to see that more each week.”
Defensively, the Steelers limited Colts running back Jonathan Taylor to 45 rushing yards on 15 carries, Roundtable Sports reported.
Now sitting at 3-2 on the season, Pittsburgh travels to face the 1-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 before heading on the road to play the New Orleans Saints.
