PITTSBURGH – For the Steelers, getting their offense going was almost as important as the result in an NFL Week 3 game against AFC North rival Cincinnati.
First-year coach Mike McCarthy’s unit had scored one touchdown through the first two weeks of the season and ranked either last or close to it in most of the major statistical categories.
Something needed to change, and more than anyone else, Jaylen Warren changed it.
The veteran running back rushed for 127 yards behind a revamped offensive line and added 49 receiving yards to key a 30-27 win against the Bengals on Sept. 27 at Acrisure Stadium. It was one of the biggest statistical days of Warren's
career on a day when backfield counterpart Rico Dowdle was held out because of a toe injury. All after he dealt with a bum shoulder himself throughout the week.
“I was told yesterday, ‘Don’t throw Jaylen the ball in practice,'" quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the game. “I said, ‘Why?’ ‘He’s got a shoulder.’ Okay, fine. Then I saw him today and he had something on there.
“What a tough guy. I mean, I’ve always had respect for him playing against him and being his teammate now for a little more than a season. He is one of the toughest guys I’ve ever played with. Just can’t say enough about his energy and the way he runs the football and the way he cares about his teammates. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Warren took a bit of a back seat to Kenneth Gainwell within former OC Arthur Smith’s offense last season. Warren led the team in rushing, but Gainwell was named team MVP after he led the team in receptions with 73 as Rodgers’ favorite target for picking up yardage underneath.
And Warren's start to 2026 had been rather slow. He gained fewer than 50 rushing yards against Atlanta in Week 1 and New England in Week 2.
Steelers offensive line changes make difference
That lack of production contributed to McCarthyswitching up his offensive line for Week 3. First-round draft pick Max Iheanachor replaced Dylan Cook at right tackle, and veteran Brock Hoffman stepped in for Spencer Anderson at guard.
It was a bold pivot that unlocked Warren and, by extension, the rest of the offense.
“Max is a talented young man,” McCarthy said after the game. “I think that’s evident. His injury was a setback in training camp, but he’s ready. It was time to give him that opportunity. Brock has been playing every position inside, and he’s been pushing for an opportunity.”
Warren set the tone behind them on the first offensive play of the game, when Rodgers found him for a 30-yard pass that set up a 38-yard Roman Wilson touchdown – Pittsburgh’s first since the second quarter of Week 1 against Atlanta.
He followed it up with explosive plays all day. A 13-yard run sparked the second touchdown drive that culminated with a 23-yard throw to receiver Ben Skorwronek. A 35-yard run set the unit up for a field goal that made the score 17-10. Then a 26-yard run set up what proved to be Chris Boswell’s game-winning field goal.
Warren probably should have won the game himself on the last big play – he had a clear path to the end zone. A stumble left the Steelers short of the goal line, though, and the Steelers were forced to settle for three. Warren also had a 90-plus yard run negated by a holding penalty earlier on the drive to underscore how dynamic he was in the game.
Steelers break through with big plays
Forced to honor that kind of threat, the Bengals yielded big plays all over the field, too. Darnell Washington broke free for a 47-yard catch and run on the game-winning drive, and five different Steelers had gains of at least 20 yards on the day.
“He was the focal point,” McCarthy said of the performance afterward. “You guys are at practice, and you can see how he was limited in certain things. He came up big. He was huge for us today.”
The result was the vibe shift the Steelers needed as they head into a spot in which traditionally struggle. They’ll face the AFC North rival Browns in Cleveland in Week 4 toting an 0-9 record in Thursday night road games against division opponents all-time.
Another stinker from the offense might have caused some panic with that history in mind.
Instead, the Steelers salvaged at least a share of the division lead and have some hope they've started to find their offensive identity under McCarthy.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers may have unlocked their offense with a heavy dose of Jaylen Warren
