Update On Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Provides Clarity About His Future In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had the running back position fully figured out ever since Le'Veon Bell left the organization following the 2018 campaign. There has been plenty of turnover and while Najee Harris provided some stability with Jaylen Warren, neither have ever been considered one of the best in the NFL. The organization got a great year from Kenneth Gainwell in 2025, only for him to quickly depart in free agency. That then led to the arrival of Rico Dowdle, and, in the middle of all of this, former third-round selection Kaleb Johnson has sort of gotten lost altogether.

In Week 2 of his rookie season, Johnson made a terrible mistake while planning to return a kickoff. He let the ball get by him and simply allowed it to trickle into the end zone after that. It never ended up going out of bounds, and the Seattle Seahawks recovered it for a touchdown.

He certainly learned his lesson, as he did not get too much action anywhere for the remainder of the season. Now, with Warren and Dowdle seemingly ahead of him, it's fair to wonder about his future with the organization given the fact that the coaching staff is almost all brand new. Despite this, the young running back seems to still be in the plans.

Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted a fan chat on Tuesday. He was asked about the second-year ball-carrier and reported that he got some good reps in during the first day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Monday.

"Yeah, he was out there with the first-team offense some on Monday," Fittipaldo wrote. "Don't read anything into that. Some of the other RBs might have been excused, but they haven't forgotten about him."

It's fair to note that first-team reps don't necessarily mean there are any plans for Johnson to get a significant workload. It was only Day 1 of the team's voluntary activities and, as Fittipaldo noted, other individuals may have been off to the side. Still, this proves that Mike McCarthy and co. recognize the talent and need to develop for Johnson.

The contractual setups for the Steelers' running back room are rather interesting. The top three all are set to be on the roster through at least the 2027 campaign so, barring injuries, Johnson might not get the playing time that he feels like he deserves. However, it's never a good idea to give up on a third-round selection so early on in his career. That is exactly why McCarthy is likely trying to get Johnson involved early on.

The preseason will be a very important stretch for Johnson. He will have the opportunity to show a fresh coaching staff that he deserves chances when meaningful football games are being played. With Warren and Dowdle both being veterans, it's likely that the duo won't see too much action in exhibition contests. If Johnson finds a way to develop and grow in his second year, the Steelers might actually struggle to decide which player should be the odd man out on Sundays.

Steelers Having Depth In The Backfield Is A Good Thing

It's not easy for running backs to remain healthy. It's one of the reasons why Harris was lauded for his time in the Steel City. He was healthy for the entirety of his tenure. If Warren or Dowdle misses a game or two, the window will be opened for Johnson to prove his worth. He is certainly ready to put his big mistake from 2025 behind him, and McCarthy appears to be giving him the chance to earn his spot onto the 53-man roster.

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