Former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren had a short time in the spotlight in the NFL Preseason, stepping out as an anticipated rookie for the Indianapolis Colts and not disappointing. Though he has yet to hit the regular season field, he already earned praise from one of the greatest in his position.
“I watched [Warren] in his first preseason game, when he played the first 20 snaps, and he was so good on all levels of the field,” former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccanneers tight end Rob Gronkowski said on "The Ryen Russillo Podcast." “He kind of reminded me of myself.”
Gronkowski wasn't new to Warren's game. He watched him while he was the Nittany Lions' prime target and loved the way he attacked the game. With his size, the former NFL tight end was impressed with what Warren accomplished and even more so on the professional level.
He complimented Warren particularly in the pass game, commenting on the rookie's ability to tackle and compete while contesting for the catch. Though it was just a taste of what he's capable of, Warren proved beyond just the Colts that he'll be a threat when he logs time in the regular season.
“[Warren] ran my play-action over route — he knew how to get open and get away from the linebackers; he knew the exact target, like where to go, because it’s a feel route,” Gronkowski said. “He ran Julian Edelman’s old route — it’s called a whip route — to perfection. I said ‘Damn, he’s doing that at that size?” Then he ran a 12-yard out kind of like myself back in the day.”
The Penn State product earned compliments from veterans in the league, especially teammate and Colts' guard Quenton Nelson. Nelson praised Warren's physicality and approved of the rookie's preseason performances. Warren's six-foot-five-inch and 256-pound frame not only battles for the catch, but the tough yards after barreling through opponents.
The one thing that'll hold him back from being a breakout star in his first NFL season is not being the primary, consistent target with wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Josh Downs. When he does get the reps in in the pass game when he's not busy blocking on the line, he should be a huge threat in the open field as long as his quarterback is efficient.
Indianapolis opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 7 against the Miami Dolphins at home. Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET and the game can be streamed on Hulu Live TV, NFL+, or Paramount+.