Sep 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Aaron Rodgers Makes Big Claim About Steelers RB

Originally posted on Pittsburgh Steelers on SI
By Ari Meyer | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 8:00 AM ET

PITTSBURGH - - The Pittsburgh Steelers second game of the 2025 NFL season went about as bad as it could have gone.

The Steelers defense, despite being the highest paid in the league, was unable to stop a team not known for their passing attack and allowed over 30 points for the second straight game.

The team is reeling from their first loss of the season and will take on the similarly weak New England Patriots in their third bout of the season.

The one bright spot of the Steelers second game was veteran running back Jaylen Warren's performance. Warren was both the leading rusher and receiver on the Steelers for the game, despite not recording any touchdowns. He had 14 rushes for 48 yards with zero touchdowns on the ground, as well as 4 receptions for 86 yards. The big play that put Warren's play on the attention of others was a 65-yard catch and run play off a pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Warren broke multiple tackles and was brought down in the red zone, and finished the day with zero touchdowns. That being said, he also caught the attention of his teammates including his quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Steelers quarterback believes Pittsburgh has something special. Warren signed an extension this offseason to become the feature back for the black and gold, and Rodgers sees why, declaring him amongst the best RB1's in the NFL this year.

" He's kind of what I thought from afar. I think the biggest compliment I can give him is when you're behind a four straight 1000-yardrusher, you're seen as a changeup back. He's a guy who could be a number one back on any team in the League. So really thankful for him," Rodgers said.

Rodgers also believes Warren's 65-yard catch and run against Seattle reminds him of an old friend.

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"I think the play that he had the other day was one of the greatest catch and runs I've seen," Rodgers said. " Donald Driver had a crazy one back in 2009 where a guy fell over his back and he was drilled on the five-yard line and somehow got in. But that catch and run and those jukes that he made was pretty incredible."

While Warren has not necessarily played to the standard of being the top back in the league, he has impressed early on. It is more of question of whether or not it will be a consistent level of play throughout all eighteen weeks of the season. Warren is still on the younger end of players, albeit not running backs, so he still has a bit of time to develop into one of the top backs across the league.

This article first appeared on Pittsburgh Steelers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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