Jaylen Warren played like a man at risk of losing his job in the Pittsburgh Steelers' massive 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions. That's because he truly might be fighting to remain the team's starting running back, and more importantly, in their good graces.
Maybe it was just a long-overdue explosion from Warren. He's quietly turned a corner since a dismal start to the season, and the Steelers' offense has begun to find its rhythm. However, his 151-scrimmage-yard, two-touchdown outing in Detroit was ostensibly driven by feeling the need to deliver a statement performance.
Slowly but surely, fifth-year veteran Kenneth Gainwell is taking over the Steelers' backfield; he had a similarly impressive performance against the Lions. His efforts and apparent rapport with quarterback Aaron Rodgers could render Warren obsolete in Pittsburgh -- not just in 2025, but beyond.
Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren may be falling out of favor in Pittsburgh
Despite signing a two-year, $11.904 million contract extension this past September, Warren's fairly expendable. The Steelers can cut or trade him at effectively no additional cost and even save roughly $5 million by doing so after June 1. Is that a lever worth pulling?
Gainwell's breakout at least gives the Steelers' front office something to think about. Shedding salary at a position of abundance to address areas of need, like their leaky defense, makes moving on from Warren logical from a roster-building standpoint. Unfortunately, that would come at the expense of a respected player and fan favorite, albeit not without good reason.
Moreover, and perhaps more notably, Rodgers has openly and repeatedly expressed his admiration for Gainwell and how much he enjoys sharing the field with him. The feeling has admittedly been mutual, and their strong connection is another red flag for Warren.
Rodgers has voiced a desire to continue playing in 2026, whether in Pittsburgh or elsewhere. That makes the reaffirmation of his respect for and trust in Gainwell following the Steelers' victory against the Lions particularly fascinating.
"[Gainwell's] been unbelievable in the passing game," Rodgers said. "Just unbelievable. And he's so damn smart. I was telling him [that] I wish I played with him for 10 years."
That's quite a ringing endorsement from Rodgers, which shouldn't be taken lightly, independent of his status with the Steelers. This is a four-time NFL MVP we're talking about here. With that in mind, his potential return to the Steelers may significantly impact Warren and Gainwell's respective outlooks with the club.
It's worth noting that Gainwell joined the Steelers on a one-year pact last free agency period, but he only turns 27 in March and has done enough to merit a new deal. Regardless, his odds of sticking around ostensibly increase as long as Rodgers sticks around, raising valid questions about Warren's fit.
Meanwhile, we haven't even mentioned third-round rookie Kaleb Johnson. He's been a non-factor and is evidently deep in Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's doghouse. Nevertheless, his presence looms large in the grand scheme of things, which further complicates matters for Warren.