The Pittsburgh Steelers are in search for a viable running back to spell impressive second-year budding superstar, Najee Harris for the upcoming 2022 season. Harris finished out his rookie campaign last year with 1,200 rushing yards on 307 carries and 7 touchdowns and added 74 receptions (second on the team) for 467 yards and 3 more house calls. However, the Steelers rushing attack behind Harris seemed to be less than sub-par a season ago. If the team doesn't want to run their stellar running back into the ground early on in his career, they need to find someone to give him a breather here and there. There's a surprise candidate flourishing during training camp practices in Latrobe!
Abigail Dean / Pittsburgh Steelers
In the most recent iteration of his column Asked and Answered, Steelers.com's editor Bob Labriola was asked a simple question about the team's final 53-man roster:
Fellow Steelers fan, Daniel Utley asked Labriola, "If you were court-ordered to make a selection based on everything you've seen/heard, who is the most likely underdog/darkhorse player who makes the 53-man roster?"
"To pick one – and remember, this pick is being made before a single snap of the preseason – I would go with Jaylen Warren – the undrafted rookie running back from Oklahoma State," Labriola answered in his Asked and Answered article. "The Steelers are looking for backups to Najee Harris, and Warren has been consistent in all phases of playing the position – running, catching, and blocking – but he's going to have to make himself valuable on special teams to increase his chances.""Benny Snell was tied-for-sixth on the team with 7 special teams tackles in 2021, and Anthony McFarland Jr. is listed on the current depth chart as the No. 3 kickoff returner. If Warren is to replace one of them on the roster, he's going to have to find a way to contribute on special teams."
The Steelers value special teams highly, as they should. It may not be the most exciting part of the game, but one play on special teams could result in a win or loss for the team. Warren has surely impressed the man that he is competing to back up.
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“Did y’all interview him?” Harris asked. “I’m glad you interviewed him, You guys should all interview him, pick his brain a little bit.”
Harris has offered some advice to the undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State about how he can improve his game.
“There is a lot of stuff you can correct in the film room. Just looking at other teams, seeing what other guys do,” Harris commented on his interactions with Warren. “I’ve been trying to tell him, this is some of the stuff you got to look for so you can play faster.”
Credit: Steelers.com
Warren continues to put up the good fight to make the Steelers' final 53-man roster. He'll get his first taste of NFL preseason action on Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks. He'll be a guy that the coaching staff has their eyes on to see if he's that capable special teams contributor that Labriola mentioned. If he can prove he can contribute on special teams during the preseason and continues performing in the backfield as he has all training camp, Warren just might beat out one of the veterans in Snell or McFarland Jr. for a roster spot.
What are yinz thoughts on Warren battling it out for a roster spot while impressing each day in Latrobe? Let us know in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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