The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their final Week 4 decision on veteran running back Jaylen Warren.
The 26-year-old running back was one of five players included on the Steelers’ inactive list for Week 4. Warren will not play against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Steelers initially listed Warren as limited in practice but due to veteran rest on Wednesday. But he was then limited in practice again on Thursday and Friday because of a knee injury.
Entering Sunday, the Steelers listed Warren as questionable.
Warren started the first three games of the 2025 season in the Pittsburgh backfield. He received a career-high 18 carries against the New England Patriots in Week 3.
In the first quarter of that matchup, Warren experienced success and helped the Steelers jump out to a 14-point lead versus New England. But Warren finished the game with only 47 rushing yards, averaging 2.6 yards per carry.
Over the first three games this season, Warren had 132 rushing yards while averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Before this season, he owned a 4.8 yards per attempt average.
Warren also has 11 catches for 142 receiving yards and a touchdown in 2025.
The Steelers announced their inactive list for the Vikings matchup shortly after 8 am ET. Pittsburgh released the list earlier than usual because the two teams are squaring off at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland at 2:30 pm local time.
On the east cost, the Steelers and Vikings will kick off at 9:30 am.
In addition to Warren, the Steelers included cornerback Joey Porter Jr., edge rusher Alex Highsmith, guard Andrus Peat and defensive end Esezi Otomewo on their inactive list for Week 4.
Steelers Turning to Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon Without Jaylen Warren
This offseason, the Steelers allowed former starting running back Najee Harris to depart in free agency.
While the Steelers added a running back in the draft, they felt comfortable with Harris leaving in large part because of Warren. A lot of pundits argued that with more opportunities, Warren could become a lead back in the NFL.
But now without Warren in Week 4, the Steelers will turn to a couple veteran running back castoffs in Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon.
Gainwell has received 16 carries and run for 55 yards as a change-of-pace back to Warren for the Steelers this season. In his five-year NFL career, he’s never had more than 14 carries in a game.
But he may be asked for a lot more for the Steelers in Week 4. Pittsburgh is trying to be a run-first offense, and the Steelers deploying a heavy-pass game plan for 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers against Brian Flores’ Vikings defense might be a recipe for disaster.
The Steelers will also have Sermon available in the backfield Sunday. The team elevated the 26-year-old from their practice squad Saturday.
Sermon has averaged 3.8 yards per carry in his career with the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts. In his Steelers debut during Week 3, Sermon only played on special teams.
Of course, the Steelers will also have third-round rookie running back Kaleb Johnson available. However, Johnson hasn’t been on the field since he muffed a kickoff in Week 2.
Johnson has minus-1 rushing yard on two carries this season.
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