The Pittsburgh Steelers got some concerning news on the injury front on December 15, just before their MNF matchup with the Miami Dolphins, as starting running back Jaylen Warren was announced as “questionable” to play with an illness.
The Steelers confirmed this news, informing fans that “we have added RB Jaylen Warren to the injury report as questionable (illness) for tonight’s game with Miami.”
Not long after that sudden update, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero provided some more information.
“Jaylen Warren woke up sick and is getting fluids, but I’m told he’s optimistic about playing tonight,” Pelissero reported, which is obviously good news for the Steelers.
Even if Warren does suit up for Week 15 on Monday night, this could be a game where Kenneth Gainwell gets a lot of usage. Gainwell has been tremendous as a pass-catching back on third downs, and he’s had a few huge games whenever Warren has been less than 100%.
That appears to be the case as the Steelers prep for a crucial primetime outing against the Dolphins, meaning Gainwell could once again come up big in Week 15.
Steelers RBs Kenneth Gainwell & Kaleb Johnson Will Be Ready to Go After Jaylen Warren News
As noted above, Gainwell is the next man up if Warren were to sit, but rookie Kaleb Johnson would also be heavily involved in the rushing attack in that scenario.
This happened once before in 2025, as Warren missed Week 4 in Ireland. In that game, Gainwell went crazy with 19 carries for 99 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, as well as 6 receptions for another 35 yards.
Later, in Week 11, Warren only appeared on 18 offensive snaps, and Gainwell contributed another 105 scrimmage yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
Looking at Johnson’s 2025 season, Weeks 4 and 11 were two of his three largest snap counts.
In Week 4, Johnson was on the field for 11 offensive snaps, earning 6 rushing attempts. He racked up 22 yards on those six opportunities.
Later, in Week 11, the Steelers ran Johnson 5 times for 15 yards on the ground, but he only appeared on 8 snaps that time around.
It’s no secret that head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith don’t really trust Johnson’s ability to pass protect for a veteran quarterback like Aaron Rodgers. So, if he’s out there, he’s most likely getting the football for a rushing attempt.
Unfortunately, this makes Johnson’s usage predictable, and the third-round talent will need to work on becoming more well-rounded in 2026.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Key Steelers Starter ‘Questionable’ for MNF After Sudden News appeared first on Heavy Sports.