The Steelers’ new strategy at RB.

PITTSBURGH — Jaylen Warren is starting to see more playing time than Najee Harris as the Pittsburgh Steelers

gradually shift toward a different running back rotation at the end of the season. Warren has outsnapped Harris in

the backfield during the past two weeks. He played 34 snaps this week compared to Harris’s 26 snaps, and Warren

outran Harris 40–20 against the Indianapolis Colts last week. The adjustment seems to be effective. Against the

Bengals, Harris carried the ball 19 times for 78 yards and a touchdown, while Warren only ran eight times for

24 yards but also caught five passes for 30 yards. Throughout the game, he was also used as a pass and run blocke

r. This season, the Steelers haven’t held back from their one-two punch in the backfield; however, at the start of

the season, Harris largely outran Warren. The new rotation probably keeps Harris fresher for those long

touchdowns and enables the offense to use Warren’s explosiveness every down. In Week 16’s game against

Cincinnati, Warren surpassed 1,000 yards, making history as the second undrafted player in Steelers history to do

so. Willie Parker, his relative, was the first. With two weeks left in the regular season and hopefully the playoffs, the

Steelers will probably stick with their new running back scheme in the hopes of repeating their Week 16 success.

By using Warren’s versatility as a blocker, receiver, and runner, the move may enable Harris to run more effectively.