"BREAKING: Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger Calls Out Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith for Not Using Jaylen Warren Enough
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 5-3 on Sunday after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 27-20 at Acrisure Stadium. It was a massive win for Pittsburgh as the team had struggled against the Colts over the past two seasons. This time they managed to take down one of the elite teams in the AFC.
This was also a nice win for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers because they had lost the previous two games. Getting an upset win over one of the best teams in the NFL is always inspiring. The Steelers' offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, was not at its best and played an average game at best, but Rodgers showed he can still make big-time plays. Execution needs to improve, especially in the red zone.
On his podcast Footbahlin, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shared his thoughts on how to help the offense score more touchdowns in the red zone. He is confused about why running back Jaylen Warren is not getting the ball more near the goal line. Roethlisberger believes Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith should give Warren multiple carries in goal-line situations, which could lead to more consistent touchdowns.
"Maybe he has just given total control to Aaron [Rodgers] to throw the little nows or whatever they call them, the little RPO type plays," Roethlisberger said while speaking on his podcast on Tuesday night. "Is it Arthur Smith doing it? I don't know what the deal is, but I would like to see them run it in the goal line. You know you got down to the two or three yard line a couple of times. Why is [Jaylen] Warren not getting the ball three or four times?"
It's very clear that Roethlisberger would like to see Warren get more carries. Especially when that football is near the painted line. Co-host Spencer Te’o pointed out that Warren averages 4.1 yards per carry and is capable of producing in those situations. Roethlisberger agreed with Te'o and then mentioned that the previous week he made the same comments about DK Metcalf.
He wanted Metcalf to receive four targets in goal-line situations. In Roethlisberger’s view, when the Steelers get near the end zone, the offense should focus only on Metcalf or Warren. He believes this is the key to success in the red zone for Smith and the team. If anyone knows how to score touchdowns, it is Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger also noted that some of the issues may come from Rodgers checking out of plays at the line of scrimmage, making it difficult to place full blame. He would like to see Rodgers hand the ball to Warren more often in goal-line situations. If the Steelers can improve execution and commit to using Warren in short-yardage opportunities, they have a chance to turn red zone trips into more touchdowns and strengthen their offense for the rest of the season.
The Steelers Should Use Jaylen Warren More
Warren has carried the ball 99 times for 404 rushing yards and scored two rushing touchdowns through the first eight games. He has also been a weapon in the passing game, recording 21 catches for 193 receiving yards and adding one receiving touchdown.
If Metcalf is unable to get separation, as was the case during the Colts game, checking the ball down to Warren more often would be a smart move. He has been electric whenever he has the football, and Smith should find ways to get him even more touches and create opportunities to get him into space.
‘Big Time Rebuild’ in AFC East Could Feature 6-foot-6 Eagles Backup QB
The Philadelphia Eagles have a certain ethos when it comes to backup quarterbacks that lands along the lines of “The More the Merrier” and it’s hard to argue with the results.
The Eagles have drafted and traded for potential quarterbacks with seemingly reckless abandon in recent years and come away with some gems, and none more than 2023 sixth round pick Tanner McKee, who shined in place of Super Bowl MVP quarterback Jalen Hurts when Hurts missed most of the final 3 games of the 2024 regular season with a concussion.
The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia thinks the Eagles might have a bargaining chip in McKee, who might entice a team in the middle of a massive rebuild — specifically the New York Jets — to cut a deal with Philly to obtain his services.
The Jets are coming off a fire sale before the NFL trade deadline that signaled a massive rebuild under first year head coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets now possess 5 first round picks over the next 2 seasons — 2 first rounders in 2026 and 3 first rounders in 2027.
With current starter Justin Fields not exactly getting the job done in the first year of a 2-year, $40 million contract, the Jets might want to upgrade at the position in 2026.
The 1-7 Jets have the longest postseason drought of any team across the 4 North American professional sports leagues — they haven’t been to the playoffs since losing in the AFC Championship Game following the 2010 season.
McKee could very well be a stopgap starter in 2026. If he shows he can handle the load moving forward, it could allow the Jets to spend those picks in other ways than drafting a quarterback.
“I was thinking a couple of things here, and one of them is Tanner McKee, because I was trying to look at backups and you say, is there a backup here (who could be a starter)?” Kapadia said on The Ringer NFL Show on Thursday, November 6. “I’m a huge Tanner McKee fan. I think it could be done. They’re in line for a big time rebuild. he could be the guy.”
McKee’s Trade Value Could Be High
Depending on how desperate the Jets or some other QB needy team might get, the value of McKee might be surprising if the Eagles open themselves up to trades.
McKee still has one year left on the 4-year, $4.02 million contract he signed with the Eagles after they drafted him in the sixth round (No. 188 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft out of Stanford.
That means a deal could be made that might get the Eagles back a third round pick or fourth round pick or possibly a pair of late round picks back in exchange for McKee.
From Bleeding Green Nation in June 2025: “Now, if McKee plays well in the preseason, (general manager) Howie Roseman is going to get trade offers for McKee. He probably already has. And if someone offers a 1st-round pick you take it. You just do. But I wouldn’t expect that to happen. A 3rd-round pick, no way. Not enough. The question is would you take a 2nd-rounder for McKee, and I would really be reluctant … There’s no doubt in my mind McKee can be a plus NFL starter, and he’ll probably get that opportunity if he hits free agency after the 2026 season. But right now, the Eagles need him more than they need more picks.”
