JAYLEN WARREN
Running Back
Run the ball. Stop the run.
It’s the most tried-and-true path to victory at every level of football, but that was going to be easier said than done against the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field. That’s because the Lions top 2 running backs — Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery — arrived with a combined 1,700 yards, a 5.2 average, and 21 rushing touchdown so far this season.
No one would have believed it possible that a Steelers run defense that came into the game ranked 19th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and 18th in rushing average per carry would hold Gibbs and Montgomery to 16 combined yards on 11 carries (1.5 average) and 0 TDs, while their own tandem of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell would combine for 193 yards on 23 carries (8.4 average) and 2 TDs.
Warren led the way with 143 yards on 14 carries (10.2 average) and a pair of 45-yard touchdown runs, and for that he is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Gainwell, who had 50 yards on 9 carries (5.6 average) and led the team with 5 catches for 78 yards including a 45-yard circus catch for a touchdown to finish with 128 yards from scrimmage; Kyle Dugger, who had 7 tackles and a sack for a safety; Alex Highsmith, who had 6 tackles, including 2 for loss, and 2 hits on the quarterback; Joey Porter Jr., who had 6 tackles and 2 passes defensed, as well as a hit on the game’s final play that kept Amon-Ra St. Brown out of the end zone; Chuck Clark, who had 3 tackles and 2 passes defensed; Jalen Ramsey, who had 3 tackles, including 1 for loss, and 1 pass defensed; and Jack Sawyer, who had 5 tackles, including 1 tackle for loss, and 2 hits on the quarterback.
