Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren got some serious credit from an unexpected source recently: The Baltimore Ravens.
In an episode of his Punch Line Podcast last week, Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey had his secondary-mate, safety Kyle Hamilton on as a guest, and the discussion turned to fits for potential NFL free agents this offseason.
When Humphrey asked about a fit for Tennessee Titans All-Pro Derrick Henry, Hamilton asked who had hired former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, he ruled out Pittsburgh because the Steelers already have a loaded backfield.
“They already have two good backs,” Hamilton said. “Jaylen Warren, that boy be running hard. Respect to him.”
Host Jack Settlemen then asked the two Ravens defensive backs whether Warren or Kansas City Chiefs runnings back Isaiah Pacheco was the harder runner.
“Jaylen Warren be running like if he doesn’t get these extra two yards, something bad is gonna happen,” Hamilton said. “We saw a lot of Jaylen Warren. That one drive against Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh, he had like 60 of the yards on that drive. He hurdled [Ronald] Darby, spun me, and then scored a touchdown at the end.”
“I tackled him up high,” Humphrey said, starting an amusing back-and-forth about the difficulties of brining down the Steelers bruising rusher.
“You did tackle him. You had a good tackle. That’s one thing I will give you, you are one of the better tackling corners in the league.”
“I surprised myself when I made that tackle. I think he thought I was gonna go low, and then I didn’t.”
“That was a good tackle. You were hurt after that tackle.”
“I was hurt.”
“I remember helping you up and you were like ‘urrghhh.’”
“That hurt.”
Warren has drawn national attention for his running style, but it must be encouraging for him to hear that the defenders on his team’s fiercest rival have his respect.
