PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Jaylen Warren said during an interview last week that he’s the type of competitor that approached the Colts game as wanting to be the best running back on the field. Even though that other back is widely considered Top 5 in the NFL. He accomplished his goal.
The Steelers tailback led the team in rushing Sunday with 101 yards and receiving with 87 yards while Jonathan Taylor finished with 82 total yards.
“I've always believed in myself, wherever that put me, whatever tier that put me in,” Warren said postgame. “It’s credit to my O-line.”
“Actually, we exchanged a couple of words after the game and it meant a lot coming from someone like him, [Jonathan Taylor], a premier back. You know, whatever tier somebody wants to put me in, that's what it is, but I've always believed in myself.”
“He’s been very underrated in this league for a long time, I go back to when PQ was in Baltimore and he came here, I’m pretty sure he said Jaylen was the hardest tackle in the NFL,” said Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth. “Jaylen is a hell of a player. Every time we give him in the ball he makes a good play.”
It started on the first play of the second series, as Aaron Rodgers went back to pass knowing he had a couple of receivers out on slant routes, but felt ‘something about to just destroy me’ and dumped it to Warren at the line of scrimmage.
“And it’s fun to watch him just go down the sideline,” Rodgers said. “You think, oh, it’s going to be a big play. Now it’s 20, now it’s 30, now it’s 40. Oh, he might score? Oh, that’s cool. Yeah, didn’t really have to do anything other than take a shot.”
Warren broke a tackle and then turned up the accelerator, with assistance of a convoy from receiver DK Metcalf, scored an 80-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a lead they would never relinquish. It also tied with Bill Dudley as the longest TD reception by a tailback in team history.
“It doesn't happen often,” Warren said of the play. “So when it did, I saw DK [Metcalf] on my left blocking. I just knew I had to stay on the outside of him and just run fast, make sure I didn't trip.”
Which is a slight dig on himself for tripping on the grass earlier this season and costing himself a touchdown. That wouldn’t be the only huge play.
Steelers up a point midway through the third quarter. The play after they converted a fourth down on a Freiermuth run, Warren started left on a handoff and quickly burst up the middle, breaking a tackle and sprinting 50 yards for a second touchdown.
“I’m not surprised because the things that he does at practice every single day, it’s not a surprise that he comes and has days like this,” said Steelers tackle Troy Fautanu.
Over the last three games with Rico Dowdle out, Warren has played nearly every snap.
- 127 yards rushing and 49 receiving against Cincinnati
- 93 yards rushing and 33 receiving against Cleveland
- 101 yards rushing and 87 receiving against Indianapolis
“I mean, he's the man,” said Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. “He's hauling it right now for us. There's a number you like to continue to give him. He's produced, so it's been heavy. It will be great to get Rico [Dowdle] back this week too. Having them as a one-two punch was the vision of this offense, but Jaylen is crushing it right now. He's been awesome for us.”
Warren joined the exclusive group of six that most recently included Herschel Walker in 1986 (and also includes Gale Sayers and Jim Brown) as the last player to have a 80-yard touchdown reception and 50-yard touchdown run in the same game.
“He's just such a slippery player,” Rodgers said. “First guy rarely brings him down. He's good inside the tackle. He's good outside of tackles. Always moving forward. Always spinning, slipping out of plays, finishing runs.”
Big plays from Steelers win over Indy
“He's one of the most liked players on the team. Guys want to block for him on the offensive line, the tight ends, and the receivers. Just really enjoy his energy from start to finish every day of the week and enjoy what he does for us.”
“That dude does not have a bad day,” said Steelers Cam Heyward. “You know, we put a lot on his shoulders, but he’s able to deliver.”
Warren is one of those guys who loves to perform for his teammates, but isn’t comfortable with publicity. It’s part of the reason, as Rodgers noted, the guys in the locker room love him.
“Just trusting my teammates,” Warren said. “I mean, I always trust my teammates, but just the camaraderie we've built over the past couple of weeks, it really shows on Sunday for me.”
After years of splitting carries with Najee Harris, then Kenneth Gainwell and early this season Dowdle, it’s been Warren’s time and he’s balled out.
‘Jaylen is crushing it right now. He's been awesome for us’
‘Jaylen is crushing it right now. He's been awesome for us’
