First Call: Arthur Smith's cloudy response about Jaylen Warren; George Pickens' quiet opener for Dallas

Friday’s “First Call” has an interesting interpretation of Jaylen Warren from Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

An often-discussed wide receiver option for the Steelers is retiring. George Pickens played his first game in a Cowboys uniform. A former Steelers offensive tackle is trying to make a comeback with a massive body transformation.

And the Pirates are facing yet another stiff challenge.

Reading between the lines

Earlier this week, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren signed a two-year contract extension with the team. It’ll pay him a total value of $17.5 million over the next three years, with $12 million guaranteed.

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was asked if he looked at Warren as “a high-volume lead” back.

Smith’s response was… less than direct. Here’s the full transcript:

“There are very rare guys that can almost sustain close to 300 carries a year. Give (Najee Harris) a lot of credit. That was unique about him. So that’s kind of been the history. There’s been a kind of feature back. We had that in Tennessee (Derrick Henry). Different strengths. We’ve got a unique running back room,” Smith said.

“Jaylen was injured a lot of last year, so he wasn’t fully healthy at times. Jaylen is a really unique player. His contact balance, his yards after contact, his ability underneath, unique, really good pass protector. Then you have Kenneth Gainwell, kind of a unique skill set. Kaleb (Johnson) is a young guy. Sometimes, you look at the strengths of your room, there’s only so many carries, but if you look at the totality of the season, hopefully, if we’re playing longer, that’s a lot of carries to divvy up. It can change week to week; something can come up. All three of those guys will be ready.”

Did you read a “Yes” anywhere in there? I sure didn’t.

When you are asked if one specific guy can be a “lead” back, and the answer ends up being about a total of three guys, that sounds like a “No” to me.

If I was Smith, I wouldn’t have answered in affirmative either because I don’t have that opinion of Warren. Then again, my front office didn’t just give him $12 million guaranteed.

I think Warren is a No. 2 back or a “1-B” at best. His ball security is a worry. I think his ability to be that consistent first-and-second-down running back that Smith was asked about is in question. I think he is better served as a third-down change-of-pace player.

His new contract from the Steelers suggests the front office thinks more of him than that. The evasive response from Smith does not.

It’s an interesting disconnect to track.

Little to ‘Pick’ from

It was a quiet debut for George Pickens with the Dallas Cowboys.

The former Steeler only caught three balls on four targets for 30 yards during the NFL season-opening game in Philadelphia Thursday night.

It should be noted, however, that Pickens did draw a significant pass interference penalty in the first half.

He also stood out for this blatant clothesline of Reed Blankenship that drew a flag.

George Pickens couldn't even go a whole game without committing an unbelievably dumb penalty. pic.twitter.com/6js2f1ipEd

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) September 5, 2025

Pickens was traded to Dallas from Pittsburgh on May 7.

CeeDee Lamb, meanwhile, was targeted by Dallas QB Dak Prescott 13 times for seven catches and 110 yards. But he also had at least three drops.

The Cowboys ended up losing to the Eagles, 24-20, in a game that didn’t end until almost 12:30 a.m. due to a weather delay.

Still at it

An ex-Steeler is getting a look in Chicago. It’s offensive tackle Zach Banner.

According to KPRC2-TV’s Aaron Wilson, Banner had a workout with the Chicago Bears on Thursday.

#Bears worked out Zach Banner, Myles Cole, Dallis Flowers, Isaiah Foskey, Wesley French, Hayden Harris, Trey Hill, Curtis Jacobs, Alex Johnson, Deantre Prince, A.J. Woods

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) September 4, 2025

Banner hasn’t played an NFL game since Jan. 9, 2022. He was released by the Steelers in March of that year and hasn’t had an NFL job since. The former USC Trojan inked a contract in March with the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL.

From 2017-21, Banner played 30 games and started as a member of the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 31-year-old says he has dropped 70 pounds. At the NFL combine he weighed in at 353 pounds.

Not happenin’

For those wondering if Amari Cooper might ever be in the Steelers’ plans as an in-season acquisition, give it up.

The former Raider, Cowboy, Buffalo Bill and Cleveland Brown is retiring. Just nine days ago, the 31-year-old wide receiver signed a one-year contract to return to the Las Vegas Raiders. He played with that franchise in Oakland from 2015-18 on his entry-level contract.

But the Alabama Crimson Tide alum has decided that retirement is the best option. The 10-year vet didn’t sign on anywhere this summer through training camps after his relationship with the Bills ended in Buffalo after last season.

Cooper played 10 seasons and finished his career with 711 catches for 10,033 yards and 64 touchdowns.

Hot against the best

For all of their faults this year, the Pirates (64-77) have been good at home. They are 42-30 at PNC Park.

They’ve also been quite good against top-notch competition of late. Since July 28, the Bucs can boast series wins against the Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Dodgers. All four of those teams are currently above .500. Three of them are currently in playoff positions.

The one team to fit that description who really outclassed Don Kelly’s bunch in recent weeks was Milwaukee. The National League Central leading Brewers swept Pittsburgh in Wisconsin Aug 11-13 by a combined score of 33-6.

The Brewers have the best record in baseball at 86-55 (.610). They have struggled of late, though, dropping 10 of their last 17. That includes a 2-0 defeat on Thursday to the Philadelphia Phillies as Ranger Suarez (11-6, 2.89 ERA) tossed six shutout innings.

Ranger Suárez, Wicked 74mph Curveball. ???? pic.twitter.com/aFOUJNL1jM

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 4, 2025

Ex-Pirate Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.28) is supposed to start the opener of the series Friday against Johan Oviedo (2-0, 3.60).

Former All-Stars Mitch Keller (6-13, 4.21) and Brandon Woodruff (5-2, 3.69) square off Saturday. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.50) hurls against an unknown Pirates starter Sunday.

Listen: Tim Benz and Kevin Maher of News 12 New York preview Sunday’s Steelers-Jets game.