The Steelers promote Trey Sermon from the practice squad for Week 4 against Minnesota, then he’ll return to the practice squad after the game. The move marks a second consecutive elevation, with Sermon contributing kickoff returns last week against New England. Kaleb Johnson’s early-season special-teams miscues opened the door for Sermon, while Warren’s knee injury looms as a potential catalyst for a bigger backfield role for Gainwell, Johnson, or Sermon if he can’t log a full workload. The Week 4 tilt in Dublin kicks off late morning in the U.S., testing Pittsburgh’s depth and special-teams flexibility once more.

As Warren is listed questionable but leaning toward playing, Pittsburgh may lean on a trio of backs behind him. Sermon’s kickoff-return usage could foreshadow a broader non-traditional role if Warren is limited, with Gainwell and Johnson ready to slip into expanded duties in short-yardage or third-down scenarios. The game plan will hinge on health and the Steelers’ willingness to rotate backs to preserve Warren for the stretch run.

The Week 4 Dublin game starts early for fantasy managers as the Steelers take on the Vikings at 9:30 am ET, forcing brisk lineup decisions. Jaylen Warren is listed questionable but expected to play, keeping Pittsburghs backfield intact with Trey Sermon as depth. The Week 3 promotion of Sermon adds context but does not signal a clear split.

If Warren cannot go, Kenneth Gainwell would shoulder a heavy workload with Kaleb Johnson stepping in as the rookie, increasing volatility for Steelers ball carriers. The international setting amplifies the need to monitor inactives and pregame reports for lineup precision.

The Steelers elevated Trey Sermon to the 53-man roster as Max Scharping hit the reserve/injured list, signaling a backfield shift before Week 3 against New England. Kaleb Johnson’s job security is in jeopardy after a Week 2 special-teams blunder that opened the door for Sermon’s return to active duty.

Sermon, who impressed on the preseason and spent 2024 with Indianapolis (two rushing TDs), arrives with NFL familiarity and fresh legs to complement Pittsburgh’s run game, while Johnson could be a healthy scratch if the rotation tightens. Fantasy managers should monitor depth-chart movement and injury news ahead of the Patriots matchup.

Keep an eye on practice reports and depth-chart changes as Pittsburgh navigates line injuries and backfield usage, especially with the Patriots looming in Foxborough.

Pittsburgh put Max Scharping on injured reserve with a season-ending ACL tear and elevated Trey Sermon from the practice squad ahead of Week 3 against New England. Sermon could see a modest early workload as Kaleb Johnson’s usage stays in flux after a Week 2 kickoff return miscue. Ben Roethlisberger’s blunt take on Johnson adds drama, and Sermon’s arrival could boost Pittsburgh’s offensive ceiling if Johnson’s role tightens.