Despite dealing with injuries and a suspension to WR D.K. Metcalf down the stretch, the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) managed to secure a berth in the NFL postseason. Now, they’ll look to advance in a Wild Card Round matchup against the Houston Texans (12-5) on Monday night.
Prior to Monday's kickoff (8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC), Steelers RB Jaylen Warren isn’t completely healthy, dealing with an illness that caused him to miss practice earlier this week. For the Steelers to be successful against a stingy Texans front seven, Pittsburgh may need Warren’s services.
Let’s take a closer look at a Jaylen Warren injury update and what it could mean for Pittsburgh on Monday. We’ll also include some PrizePicks player projections for Steelers vs. Texans on Wild Card Weekend.
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Jaylen Warren Injury Update: Will He Play on Monday vs. Texans?
Warren has been very healthy throughout the majority of the season. The Steelers' top RB only missed the team’s Week 4 contest against the Minnesota Vikings due to a knee ailment.
On Thursday, Warren missed practice due to illness. Via the Tribune-Review, the fourth-year man was seen wearing a mask and surgical gloves on the practice field despite not participating.
However, Warren was a full participant in Friday’s practice session, a strong indication that he could be good to go for Monday’s Wild Card clash with the Texans.
Over the last three games, Warren has averaged 91.0 rushing yards and 13.7 receiving yards while rushing for a pair of TDs.
Steelers’ Offensive Outlook for Wild Card Round vs. Texans
If Warren were to miss Monday’s game, the main player that would be affected would be RB Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell has been an integral part of Pittsburgh’s rushing attack and has tallied 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight TDs.
Pittsburgh and its strong running game certainly will face one of its strongest tests on Monday. The Texans surrender just 93.7 rushing yards per game, fourth-fewest in the NFL. According to SumerSports, their -0.05 EPA per rush leads the league.
Jaylen Warren PrizePicks Projections vs. Texans: 52.5 Rush Yards, 13 Rush Attempts, 11.5 Receiving Yards, 63.5 Rush + Receiving Yards
Warren's projected availability could be a huge boost for a Steelers offense that is also getting Metcalf back. While the Texans' defense is an elite unit, their pass defense has looked more vulnerable in recent weeks. In each of their past two games, Houston has allowed at least 200 receiving yards to the opposition.
Metcalf racked up 14 receptions for 245 yards and a TD in his last three games. Per Next Gen Stats, he's registered 7.6 yards after catch per reception, ranking second behind only Chiefs WR Rashee Rice.
D.K. Metcalf Projections vs. Texans on Wild Card Weekend
Here are some of D.K. Metcalf’s player projections for Monday vs. the Texans, courtesy of PrizePicks.
- 55.5 Receiving Yards
- 4 Receptions
- 6.5 Receiving Targets
- 23.5 Yards on Longest Reception
- 11.5 Fantasy Score
- And More
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Make Texans vs. Steelers Picks on PrizePicks
As the chase for Super Bowl LX begins, and Steelers vs. Texans picks aren’t the only ones on the board.
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