The Pittsburgh Steelers had a major issue with their gameplan in their Week 10 loss. Running back Jaylen Warren was having himself a great game early on, but he suddenly just got taken off the field. Head Coach Mike Tomlin explained why his offense stopped running the ball, but it didn't explain why Kenneth Gainwell had more snaps than him. The only player that showed any ability to move the ball downfield was seemingly benched for a third down back that was not even getting any carries throughout the entire game.
Nick Smith / Steelers.com
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in Inglewood, CA.
Tomlin kept dancing around the question of why Warren was on the bench, but we finally have our answer. Insider Gerry Dulac explained what happened in his recent column on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"[Arthur] Smith and Running Back Coach Eddie Faulkner go over the rotation plan for the position based on packages and certain plays, unless there is an injury," Dulac explained. "Once the game begins, Faulkner typically is responsible for which back goes into the game and when. When the Steelers got behind 22-3 and failed to convert a third down until four minutes remained in the game, Gainwell ended up taking more snaps on third down and in the hurry-up offense in the fourth quarter because of the types of plays in their packages."
Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith wanted to pass the ball a lot more because of the big deficit, of course. Because of that, Steelers Running Back Coach Eddie Faulkner decided that it was best to have Gainwell on the field for his receiving abilities. Of course, when the Steelers started running the no-huddle offense, there was no ability to substitute Warren in during those situations.
Keith Srakocic / AP Photo
Steelers' Eddie Faulkner coaching up his running back room during a practice in the Steel City.
The problem with that line of thinking is that Warren is a great pass blocker, so he could have helped make quarterback Aaron Rodgers get comfortable in the pocket. The offensive line had one of their worst performances of the season, so having the former undrafted free agent in the backfield could have helped make up for their struggles in that game.
Warren is also a quality receiver out of the backfield. He could have gone out for a swing pass or option route, but the Steelers also like Gainwell in those situations. Maybe it made sense to have Gainwell in for a drive or two, but many fans believe outright having him out-snapping the starter is inexcusable for Faulkner.
Steelers Should Expect More Out Of Faulkner
Back in 2023, Faulkner became the interim offensive coordinator after Matt Canada was fired midseason. He did a good job with complementing the run game and the pass game overall, and that involved being able to substitute Warren in for Najee Harris when necessary, since he was great third down back. His play-calling helped lead the offense to an end-of-season surge that resulted in a postseason berth.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (#22) and current starter Jaylen Warren (#30) warmup prior to a 2022 preseason game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
That's the key there: Warren was an excellent third down back when he was the backup. He has proven to fit well in that role, so the need to take him out on third downs is not there for many fans. He may not be as fast as Gainwell, but he provides a more dynamic upside to the offense when he is on the field. He can run, block, or catch, and he can do it out of any formation and package. There is no excuse to have him on the sidelines with fewer snaps than his backup.
What do you think about Faulkner's choice of running back usage, as well as why he did it in Week 10? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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