The Pittsburgh Steelers have high expectations as they begin the preseason, and they had a strong start with their 31-25 win over the Jaguars Saturday night. Several players shined in the first real action of the season, especially in the passing game.
Where the Steelers struggled, however, was on the ground. It's been well documented at this point that Pittsburgh wants to run the football early and often in 2025, but they failed to impress in their first chance to establish it.
Perhaps most disappointing was the play of third-round rookie Kaleb Johnson. He has been gaining steam during training camp with his impressive ability as a runner, but he failed to show any of the explosiveness that made him one of the best runners in all of college football last season.
Pittsburgh Steelers' Kaleb Johnson has tough start to his NFL career against Jaguars
Johnson had just 20 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging a paltry 2.5 yards per attempt. He also dropped a wide-open pass early in the game and failed to make himself available as a receiver on a play that ended with a sack of Mason Rudolph.
It was a forgettable debut to say the least, but it's not the end of the world for the former Iowa Hawkeye. He didn't receive the best blocking from his offensive line, and his style requires a bit more room than other backs. He showed his vision and patience on a nice nine-yard run, bouncing an inside run to the outside and stiff-arming a defender.
His issues as a receiver and pass protector are the more concerning problem, and it clearly still needs work based on this game. Jaylen Warren will undoubtedly handle most of the Steelers' third-down work in 2025, but he is only on a one-year deal. Getting Johnson ready to handle more than just first and second down duties should be a priority for Arthur Smith and the rest of the offensive coaching staff.
Overall, fans shouldn't panic about Johnson's performance against the Jaguars. But it may be smart to slow down the hype train on the rookie for now.