Is Kaleb Johnson Already Falling Out of Favor with Steelers?
p/c: Gene J. Puskar
During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to address running back, after cutting ties with Najee Harris. In Round 3, they selected University of Iowa standout, Kaleb Johnson.
The selection of Johnson was given positive remarks, with some even going as far to say it was one of the best mid-round steals of the draft. He rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns, as a junior last season, while being named Big 10 Running Back of the Year.
This past offseason, I listed Johnson as one of five Steelers X-Factors for this year, because of his profile coming out of Iowa, as well as needing to compliment Jaylen Warren.
Johnson was impressive in both rookie minicamp and training camp. However, the preseason was a different story, as he struggled to find consistency, while not being able to hit the holes aggressively enough.
The lackluster preseason showing resulted in Johnson being placed third on Pittsburgh’s RB depth chart, behind Kenneth Gainwell, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason.
Mike Tomlin gave Johnson an opportunity as the team’s kickoff returner to begin the season.
Although the Steelers defeated the Jets in Week 1, 34-32, Johnson nearly lost a fumble on a kickoff.
Week 2 was a moment Johnson would like to permanently erase from his football career, as he let a live ball on a kickoff roll into the end zone - only for the Seahawks to recover it for a score. For Steelers fans, it was shades of Barry Foster in 1990. The boneheaded mistake by Johnson was the turning point of the game, in Pittsburgh’s 31-17 loss.
Johnson would be removed from kickoff duties - Tomlin saying during his press conference earlier this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that the Steelers elevated RB Trey Sermon from the practice squad. The move would likely mean Johnson being inactive as a healthy scratch for Sunday’s game in Foxboro against the New England Patriots.
Just a few weeks into the season, is Johnson already beginning to fall out of favor with the organization?
Personally, it would be foolish to think that Tomlin views Johnson as an afterthought this early, especially given how much the Steelers head coach praised Johnson’s skill set and potential in camp. That being said though, Johnson will have to do quite a lot, in order to get himself back in Tomlin’s good graces.