Steelers RB Jaylen Warren carried the ball two times for three yards, while hauling in both of his targets for 12 yards in Pittsburgh’s Week 3 preseason contest against Carolina. He also fumbled once.
The final stat line looked bad, but that isn't the main story here.
Warren didn’t produce and nearly lost a fumble on limited work on Thursday. More concerning, though, was RB Kenneth Gainwell's usage. The former Eagle played all three third downs, and even got two early-down carries on the opening drive of the game.
Warren rested the first two preseason games, paving the way for Gainwell, not rookie RB Kaleb Johnson, to draw the start. We know OC Arthur Smith’s backfields can be frustrating, and it appears Gainwell is going to have a legitimate role, at least to open the season. Johnson finally got a chance to run behind the first-team offensive line and looked good, averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. But based on the preseason usage, he’ll be a difficult player to trust in fantasy lineups early on.
It’s looking like all three Pittsburgh RBs will have roles this season.
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