The Pittsburgh Steelers improved to 3-2 Sunday after a 34-22 win against the Indianapolis Colts. Running back Jaylen Warren has been a force since the start of the season and doesn’t look stoppable.
Former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle signed with the Steelers in March but has missed time with a toe injury. Dowdle is expected to return this week, and the Steelers can finally use the “one-two punch” of him and Warren, as any Pittsburgh fan would assume, but head coach Mike McCarthy has other plans.
According to Austin Bechtold of Behind the Steel Curtain, McCarthy was asked how the duo plans to come together in the coming weeks but gave a very unexpected response as he indicated that he doesn’t necessarily view the duo as a “one-two punch.”
“Jaylen’s our featured player right now,” McCarthy said [via BTSC](https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/176153/mike-mccarthy-gives-jaylen-warren-update-every-steelers-fan-wanted-rico-dowdle). “Let’s make sure we all recognize that. He’s hot, he’s playing great football for us.”
Sunday, Warren recorded 188 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers’ win. This season alone, the veteran has rushed for 410 yards and caught 230, yet the running back has yet to get the [recognition his team](https://thecomeback.com/nfl/aaron-rodgers-sends-message-to-national-media-jaylen-warren.html) thinks he deserves.
“It’s important for us as an offense, coaches and players alike, to continue to put him in position to make plays,” McCarthy said. “That won’t change.”
With Dowdle’s return on the horizon, McCarthy made it clear that whatever needs to be done to win the game will be done, but he isn’t committing to a set workload for Warren.
“I’m not going to pick at numbers; it depends on the game. Who you’re playing and what’s going on in the game,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, we want to win the game, so let’s just start there. Whatever it takes to win the game, that will be our approach this week.”
The Steelers will face off against the 1-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa this Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff adjusts the running back room.