Steelers Part Ways with Injured Offensive Lineman Gareth Warren
PITTSBURGH — After an injury knocked a rookie Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman out of action, his time with the organization has officially come to an end. The Steelers waived Gareth Warren, a massive, 22-year-old offensive tackle, according to the NFL's transaction list.
The move comes after Warren was injured during the Steelers’ second preseason game. Diving for a loose ball, he received a concussion and was unable to return for the rest of preseason action. After being waived with the final roster cuts, the team placed him on the Reserved/Injured List. Now healthy, the team is parting ways with him altogether.
With this designation, Warren is now free to sign with any other NFL team.
Unexpected Rise
Warren joined the Steelers after going undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6’6”, 330-pound tackle was passed over after finishing his collegiate career at the FCS school Lindenwood. With several NFL teams interested in signing him as an undrafted free agent, he chose to sign in
The step was a continuation of Warren’s rise up the ranks. Born in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, he was a standout player at Kealakaehe High School before becoming joining the Lindenwood Lions. As a junior, he was a part of an offensive line that dominated the conference and FCS competition. The Lions averaged 39.5 points per game and 509.1 yards per game, both tops in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
Lack of Opportunity
Despite showing promise and potential, the road to a spot on the 53-man roster was long. And the road to becoming an impact player at the tackle position even longer.
It’s no disrespect to Warren, but he’s an unrefined player in need of further development and more attention in order to take that next step. Receiving that in Pittsburgh was a low possibility.
The Steelers have two young tackles they fully believe in already. Troy Fautanu has already become an unquestioned staple on the right side, despite this being his first year of playing regular season games in the NFL.
Broderick Jones has similarly gained more and more trust from the Steelers’ coaching staff and starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. He and Fautanu haven’t allowed a sack in two straight games, and the offensive line is gelling more and more as the season progresses.
Behind Jones and Fautanu, the Steelers also have veterans like Dylan Cook and Andrus Peat that can step up in the case of injury.
The result is a crowded path for Warren to become an NFL player, and the Steelers are now giving him the chance to catch on somewhere else.
NFL Revolutionizes Officiating With AI Tech to Reduce Controversial Calls
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers are looking for redemption in Week 8 when the Green Bay Packers come to Acrisure Stadium. In Week 7, the Steelers fell to 4-2 after losing 33-31 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football. While it is natural during games for fans to complain about officiating, many Steelers fans felt particularly wronged during the course of that game.
Controversial calls in key moments left players and fans frustrated, believing that the outcome could have been different. However, it is important to remember that officiating mistakes are part of the game, as referees are human and capable of error in a sport that moves as fast as the NFL. Even though most fans will disagree, officiating calls often balance out over the course of games. However, that does not mean major mistakes cannot negatively impact the outcome.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, however, seems determined to change that. On Wednesday, ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed that the league is actively exploring how Artificial Intelligence can assist officials in making more accurate calls. The technology would aim to analyze plays in real time, identify penalties, and provide officials with instant feedback to ensure greater consistency and fairness. It is an ambitious idea that could fundamentally alter how games are officiated and potentially eliminate the kind of controversy that surrounds certain calls.
"Roger Goodell told reporters that the NFL is looking into how AI might be able to help out officiating in the future," Schefter revealed to his 11.6 million social media followers on Wednesday.
The news has sent shockwaves through the football world. If implemented, AI-assisted officiating could reshape the future of the NFL, reducing human error and increasing transparency for players, coaches, and fans alike. Still, the transition will not come without challenges, as questions about accuracy, reliability, and the human element of the game remain at the forefront.
For now, the Steelers will focus on getting back in the win column against Green Bay, but the league’s bold step toward an AI-driven future could soon change the way every NFL game is played and judged.
The NFL’s exploration of AI-assisted officiating opens a larger conversation about the future of the sport. Beyond correcting in-game mistakes, this technology could influence strategy, as coaches might adjust play-calling knowing that penalties are more likely to be accurately flagged. It could also affect player behavior, encouraging cleaner play if officials have more precise oversight.
Fans, too, could benefit from enhanced transparency, with clearer explanations of calls and real-time data showing why certain decisions were made. This might reduce frustration and debate on social media while increasing confidence in the integrity of the game.
Not all fans are happy with the news. Many fans believe that AI could make the game actually worse. While others believe it will help. Implementing AI in officiating will not be simple. The league will need to ensure that technology can keep up with the speed and complexity of NFL plays while integrating smoothly with human officials.
Steelers And Rest Of The League Will Be Forced To Adjust To AI Sooner Rather Than Later
Balancing the human element with technological assistance will be a challenge, as the unpredictable nature of football is part of what makes it exciting. Yet if successful, AI could reduce controversy without removing the instinctive judgment and experience that referees bring to the field.
For the Steelers and the rest of the league, this is only the beginning. While Pittsburgh focuses on winning in Week 8, the broader conversation about AI in the NFL signals a potential transformation in how football is played, watched, and judged in the years to come. Teams, fans, and officials alike will have to adapt to a new era where technology plays a central role in shaping the game.
