Team news: Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be dealing with a hand issue during pregame warmups before today’s game against the Colts.

Rodgers was seen checking his hand and his fingers. CBS analysts Tony Romo and Matt Ryan speculated the injury may have come while taking snaps with a backup center — typical for quarterbacks while the starting center may be getting taped. We’ll see if this affects Rodgers in any way against a good Colts defense.

A Packers teammate of quarterback Aaron Rodgers is set to join up with him in Pittsburgh.

According to multiple reports, the Steelers will sign wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Valdes-Scantling worked out for the team on Monday.

Valdes-Scantling appeared in five games for the 49ers earlier this season and was released from their injured reserve list earlier this month, the story said. Of course, it's a reunion between QB Aaron Rodgers and MVS from their days with the Packers, and the Steelers are likely hoping there is still some chemistry.

"Arrow pointed up" for CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), OLB Alex Highsmith (ankle) and RB Jaylen Warren (knee).

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell

Warren looks like he's good to go for Week 6 and will likely still give away some touches to Gainwell, who filled in nicely two weeks ago when the team played overseas.

Jaylen Warren getting work in to start the week.

Related players: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson

Warren was a scratch in Week 4, an early game overseas. Those who missed that news and left Warren in lineups ended up with a zero, while Gainwell had a big day filling in. We'll still need to see the practice report this week, but this news at least seems positive that Warren could return for Week 6, after the team's Week 5 bye. The Steelers have an early game on Sunday of Week 6, so owners will have time to adjust lineups.

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren, who was added to the injury report Friday with a knee injury, is expected to play Sunday against the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.

Perhaps as a precautionary measure, the Steelers also elevated RB Trey Sermon from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Warren was limited in practice all week but also had a rest day this week. As a reminder, this game kicks off at 9:30 am eastern, so the inactives list will be announced at 8:00. Prepare accordingly. Warren sits as our RB19 this week.

The Steelers added RB Jaylen Warren (knee) to the injury report and he's questionable for Sunday vs. Minnesota.

TE Jonnu Smith (hip) and CB Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) are also questionable.

Related Players: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Pat Freiermuth

It would be interesting to see what kind of role Kaleb Johnson would have if Warren misses, but that shouldn't put him in fantasy consideration. If Jonnu misses, Freiermuth would move up in the top-20 TE range.

Mike Tomlin on Jaylen Warren:

"His progress has been very evident and he's to be congratulated ... Certainly he'll be our featured runner. Certainly you'll see [Kaleb Johnson/Kenneth Gainwell], but at what time and at what degree [will depend week-to-week]."

Warren just signed an extension with the Steelers for two years and now looks to be the Steelers RB1. Warren isn't the biggest back so there will be questions about his size and handling a full workload, but it's good news for his owners who snagged him later in drafts. Johnson should be able to earn some early down work at some point, but it sounds like that will vary. It's just another RB situation that will need to work itself out before fantasy owners feel comfortable.

A two-year extension for Steelers RB Jaylen Warren, per his agents.

Related players: Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell

The agents pointed out Warren went from Snow Community College to Utah State to Oklahoma State before signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent. The Steelers RB situation looks to be a complicated one as the team also drafted Johnson. Some reports suggest Johnson hasn't been as great as expected so far through camp and practices, but he is still expected to get some of the workload. Gainwell comes over from the Eagles and can pretty much do it all. He was often on the field in two-minute situations and passing downs.

The Steelers will place rookie QB Will Howard, their sixth-round pick, on injured reserve at some point, though not necessarily immediately, per sources

Dynasty managers can take note here. Howard will land on IR sometime before the season starts. He didn't get any time in the preseason thanks to his injury so the Steelers will stash him away and he'll miss the first four games of the season.

The coaches are very high on [Calvin Austin III]. Tomlin calls his trajectory "really exciting," and people I've talked to with the team noted that he gets open often. Austin just doesn't have the numbers (36 catches, 548 yards, 4 touchdowns) to reflect that ability. The offense will heavily feature DK Metcalf and the tight ends, but Austin will have chances with splash plays.

Related players: DK Metcalf, Robert Woods, Roman Wilson, Jonnu Smith

Austin is being asked to get open on vertical passing plays the story said as the offense is built around taking advantage of matchups. The Steelers WR2 may end up slotting in as the third option at best in this offense, however, with the addition of Smith at TE.