Brandon Johnson
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NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported the Pittsburgh Steelers released injured receiver Brandon Johnson with an injury settlement.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially moving on from wide receiver Brandon Johnson.
The veteran landed on injured reserve when the team made their player cuts ahead of the NFL’s roster deadline on August 26. NFL insider Aaron Wilson first reported Friday the Steelers have removed Johnson from IR with an injury settlement.
PennLive.com’s Nick Farabaugh confirmed Wilson’s report, writing the team released Johnson.
Farabaugh also added more details about Johnson’s injury.
“Johnson is in a walking boot after suffering a foot injury during the team’s final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers,” Farabaugh wrote. “It is unknown just how long Johnson will need to recover, but he is free to sign with any team.”
Johnson appeared in three games for the Steelers last year. While playing 19 offensive snaps, he caught his only target for nine yards. Johnson didn’t appear on special teams at all during those three contests.
The receiver played for the Denver Broncos from 2022-23. In 2023, he had 19 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games.
Steelers Release WR Brandon Johnson: Report
Johnson’s injury and subsequent release isn’t insignificant. While Johnson isn’t a household name even in Pittsburgh, some inside the organization appeared to potentially have some level of expectations for the receiver in 2025.
On June 24, quarterback Aaron Rodgers told Pat McAfee on his show “there’s some guys you don’t know about” on the Steelers offense that “you’re gonna start hearing about” this season. Rodgers never specifically named Johnson, but he was one of a few different receivers or offensive players the quarterback could have been referring to.
Johnson began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2022. Denver waived Johnson with an injury settlement after the preseason, but he re-signed with the Broncos practice squad in October.
Johnson made his debut with the team on November 19.
It’s possible the Steelers circle back to adding Johnson once he has recovered from his injury. Before the ailment, he was a strong candidate to be on Pittsburgh’s first practice squad.
During the 2025 preseason, Johnson posted five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown. The veteran wideout had three receptions for 16 yards and the score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Week 2 of the exhibition campaign.