Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said “there’s a number you’d like to continue to give [Jaylen Warren],” even after Rico Dowdle (toe) returns.

12 October 2026

“He’s produced, so it’s been heavy. It’d be great to get Rico back this week, too. ... Having him as a one-two punch was the vision of this offense, but Jaylen’s crushing it right now. He’s been awesome for us,” McCarthy continued. That’s a very telling “but.” Warren has to be regarded as the chair of a committee at this point rather than in a backfield split, and Dowdle probably doesn’t belong in the FLEX conversation coming off his injury until we see a good workload for him.