Jaylen Warren, RB (PIT)

Slims down to 205 pounds

Warren said Thursday that he's down to 205 pounds this season, Chris Adamski of TribLive.com reports.

Warren is listed at 215 pounds on the team's official site, and he looks noticeably slimmer at OTAs this week, according to Adamski. Warren set career highs as a rusher last season, carrying the ball 211 times for 958 yards and six touchdowns as part of the Steelers' backfield duo with Kenneth Gainwell, who left in the offseason as a free agent to join Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh replaced Gainwell with Rico Dowdle, and 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson is also in the backfield mix after rushing just 28 times for 69 yards as a rookie. Dowdle is more of a prototypical early-down runner at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, so perhaps Warren slimmed down to get quicker as a change-of-pace and satellite back after Gainwell was targeted 85 times in 2025. Across four NFL seasons, Warren has 167 career regular-season catches for 1,227 yards and two touchdowns.

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Versatile role incoming?

Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy views Pittman as a versatile pass catcher capable of running the full route tree, Chris Harlan of TribLive reports.

Role as rookie TBD

Bernard, who showed "confident hands and good body control" during OTAs and minicamp, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, figures to compete with Roman Wilson this summer for work behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman in three-receiver sets.

DK Metcalf

DK Metcalf

WR PIT

Back for Year 2 with Steelers

As the 2026 season approaches, Metcalf is set to remain featured in a Pittsburgh WR corps that also includes trade acquisition Michael Pittman and 2026 second-rounder Germie Bernard, Mark Kaboly of 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh reports.

Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle

RB PIT

Sharing backfield with Warren

Dowdle, who signed with the Steelers in March, is set to work in tandem with Jaylen Warren this coming season, Kevin Hutchinson of steelersnow.com reports.

Mason Rudolph

Mason Rudolph

QB PIT

Out of 2026 starting mix

Rudolph will be relegated to a backup role again in 2026, as Aaron Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on Monday.