PITTSBURGH — Running back Jaylen Warren is dressed for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, despite being listed as questionable with a back injury.
Warren was a sudden addition to the practice report on Thursday, when he was held out with a back injury. He was listed as limited on Friday, despite merely watching the individual portions of practice while his teammates worked.
The Steelers promoted running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad to the active roster on Saturday, which certainly seemed like a bad sign for Warren’s status, but Ward is scratched and Warren will play despite the injury.
All three Steelers running backs will either be playing through or just coming off ailments. Cordarrelle Patterson played his first game back from an ankle injury against the Washington Commanders last week. Najee Harris injured his right ankle in that game and was held out of practice this Wednesday as a result, but will play against the Ravens.
The Steelers could use tight end Connor Heyward, a college running back, to fill in, but they’re also likely to be short at that position with MyCole Pruitt also out with a knee injury.
This is the second time that Warren has forced his way into the lineup this season when it didn’t look like he would play. He was listed by head coach Mike Tomlin as doubtful on the Tuesday before the Las Vegas Raiders game in Week 6, but he ended up dressing. Warren had just six carries for seven yards in that game before looking more like himself a week later against the New York Jets.
Warren has missed time with hamstring and knee injuries this season. In seven games, he has 55 carries for 217 yards and 14 catches for 96 yards. The Steelers are 7-0 with Warren in the lineup and 0-2 when he does not play.