PITTSBURGH — Through the first two weeks of the 2025 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have fielded one of the NFL’s least threatening rushing attacks. The tandem of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, running behind a youthful offensive line, has combined for the league’s third-lowest rushing total.
At best, the ground game has been inconsistent; at worst, it has looked flat-out ineffective. It’s a concerning start, but one the Steelers can still correct—if they find a spark. That spark may already be in-house in practice squad back Trey Sermon.
Sermon isn’t coming in to be the feature runner or replace Warren atop the depth chart. The former Ohio State standout is a straightforward, between-the-tackles runner at 6-foot, 215 pounds. He’s not built on speed or agility, but his bruising, north-south style would add something the current backfield rotation lacks: a physical, downhill option that can grind out tough yards.
The Steelers know balance is essential, a point offensive coordinator Arthur Smith emphasized after their Week 2 loss.
“You want to be balanced, and sometimes it’s a week-to-week matchup,” Smith said. “Regardless of what your philosophy is, if you become one-dimensional, you’re going to make life difficult for yourself in this league.”
Right now, balance is exactly what Pittsburgh lacks. Warren and Gainwell are similar in style—shifty, versatile backs who thrive in space and as pass-catching threats. The problem is defenses can anticipate what’s coming when either lines up: outside zones, jet sweeps, screens, or quick passes. Defenses are already keying in on those tendencies.
Warren is the more reliable of the two, especially with a heavy workload, but like Gainwell, he’s not the type to lower his pads and power forward in short-yardage situations.
That’s where Sermon fits. He has the size and running style to push a pile on fourth-and-inches or squeeze out tough yards when contact comes early. He may not be a true RB1, but he brings the physical edge and toughness missing from the Steelers’ run game so far in 2025. With the team searching for momentum early in the season, elevating Sermon to the 53-man roster could be the jolt this offense needs.
