If there’s one criticism nearly every observer shares about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense, it’s that Jaylen Warren still isn’t featured enough. What began as a quiet gripe during his early rotational days behind Najee Harris has grown into a full-blown outcry now that he’s Pittsburgh’s top runner. Kenneth Gainwell has been eating into his snaps, and one NFL insider thinks that will continue.
“They do think there’s a good chance starting running back Jaylen Warren, who left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, will be OK to play in Chicago, though the coaching staff has been extremely happy with Kenneth Gainwell,” Dan Graziano wrote Wednesday in ESPN’s weekly buzz file. “I expect that Gainwell will retain a significant role in the game plan either way.”
Gainwell has outsnapped Warren three times this season when both players suited up. The first time was Week 1 against the New York Jets, and then the same has been true in each of the last two weeks. In total, Warren has logged 288 offensive snaps in one fewer game than Gainwell’s 268.
Both have been efficient on a per-touch basis, but Warren has an edge at 5.1 per touch compared to Gainwell’s 4.6. There is no doubt that Gainwell is a net positive for the offense, but it’s still frustrating to see him eat into Warren’s playing time when he’s in the middle of a good game. Week 10 was a perfect example. Warren had the beginnings of an excellent outing before the Steelers turned to Gainwell for 52 percent of the offensive snaps.
Warren is arguably having the best season of any offensive player in Pittsburgh. Pro Football Focus has charted him forcing 32 missed tackles compared to Gainwell’s 12. He raises the floor of the offense by way of being explosive and difficult to bring down.
There’s room for both on offense, but it would be nice to see Warren top the 20-carry mark just once this season. Right now, he’s averaging 13.7 carries in nine games, which most can agree is not enough.
Mike Tomlin told the media on Tuesday that Warren will be limited early this week by the ankle injury he sustained on Sunday. It sounds likely he will play, but we may be trending toward yet another game where Gainwell outsnaps him in the committee backfield.
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