Every rep this spring is crucial for Pittsburgh Steelers second-year running back Kaleb Johnson. The Iowa product is coming off a disappointing rookie campaign after being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Many thought that with the departure of Najee Harris, Johnson would be the No. 2 back behind Jaylen Warren. That however, was not the case.
As a rookie, Johnson appeared in just 10 games, carrying the ball 28 times for 69 yards – good for just 2.5 yards per carry – while Kenneth
Gainwell was the de facto No. 1 back in a surprise twist. Of course, Johnson’s season was defined by the kick return blunder against the Seattle Seahawks in which he let the ball bounce from the landing zone into the end zone, not knowing that is no longer a touchback. The Seahawks recovered, and Pittsburgh was unable to catch up to the eventual Super Bowl champions in a Week 2 loss.
While blame certainly should be placed on Johnson for not knowing the rule, he shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place, considering he hadn’t returned a kick of any kind since 2023, nor does he have the downhill speed that a prototypical kick returner possesses. Unfortunately, though, that’s the only play anyone remembers from his rookie season, and he never bounced back from it, nor was he really given any ample opportunity to do so.
Now, with Rico Dowdle added to the fold coming off a second consecutive 1,000-yard season, along with the additions of Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich, Johnson finds himself on the bubble of potential cut candidates ahead of the 2026 season.
How can Johnson secure a roster spot? He needs to add a layer of versatility to his game. Head coach Mike McCarthy hinted at this when speaking at the NFL league meetings back in March.
“If guys will make the 53-man roster, everybody has to have [at least] two jobs, unless you’re a kicker or a quarterback,” McCarthy said.
That will be where Johnson has to find an inside track. With both Homer and Heidenreich being multiple players, as Homer is a long-time special-teamer and Heidenreich being both a pass-catcher and a running back who will almost certainly be given opportunities on special teams this summer, Johnson will have to outplay at least one of those two players in order to earn a roster spot.
Pittsburgh will begin its mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday, June 2, which will be another opportunity for Johnson to build a case for himself to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
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