Kaleb Johnson
Kaleb Johnson
Is it too late for Kaleb Johnson to save his job?
A 2025 third-round pick, Kaleb Johnson is at risk of being the first player drafted that early that the Steelers cut in their second year since 2010. Even though Ray Fittipaldo keeps saying it’s Kendrick Green because he forgets that Green was on the roster for his second season but just didn’t dress. The correct answer is actually Kraig Urbik, a third-round pick in 2009, who had a successful post-Steelers career. But I digress.
Kaleb Johnson didn’t get into the Steelers’ last preseason game until late. When he did, he didn’t play very much, nor did he play very well. Since his arrival into the NFL, he hasn’t really done anything that revealed his pedigree. A year ago, beat writers were tripping over themselves predicting he would be the lead runner by October. This October, he might be looking for a job.
At the moment, it seems Travis Homer would be in the lead to claim the Steelers’ third running back slot. And that is due, pretty much entirely, to special teams, which Johnson isn’t really doing. While he has expressed confidence in himself, and teammates have indicated that they see a difference in him, it doesn’t really seem to be showing up when it matters.
In fact, Kaleb Johnson may arguably be at the bottom of the running back depth chart. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are at the top, of course. Homer has his role, but Lew Nichols is gaining traction, and Max Hurleman actually makes plays. As for Eli Heidenreich, even though he’s a seventh-round pick, as a rookie, he may have more of a leash. He just came back from an injury, so we may see a lot of him in the final two preseason games.
How much will we see of Johnson in those games, though? At the moment, I’m not convinced the coaches are very interested in seeing more of what he can do. I don’t want to write him off, but the direction this is heading seems clear. I hope he can still prove himself and have a great final two preseason games. But would I bet on that outcome? Not with my own money.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already into training camp, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.