Kaleb Johnson's time with the Pittsburgh Steelers was a mess from the start. The 2025 third-round draft pick never earned the trust of his coaching staff, struggling to get on the field despite Pittsburgh's lack of a top-end running back.
The Steelers didn't hesitate to move on from Johnson this offseason, trading him away to the running back-needy Green Bay Packers in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick. It was a remarkably quick decision for general manager Omar Khan to get rid of a player he had drafted in the third round just over a year before, but Johnson's inconsistency made it hard to question the move.
But after his first game with the Packers, Johnson might be turning his young career around.
Former Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson might be turning things around with Packers
Johnson was a focal point of Green Bay's offense in their overtime win over the New York Jets. He led the team with eight carries, which he turned into 32 yards, including a 12-yard burst. The second-year back did fumble once, generating flashbacks to his Steelers days, but the Packers recovered.
He seems to have emerged as one of the primary members of Green Bay's rotation at running back, which was in desperate need of reinforcements without Josh Jacobs. In just his first game with the Packers, Johnson has already posted career-high marks in both carries and rushing yards.
The Steelers could never rely on him to take that many touches in a game. He only saw 29 total touches across his entire rookie season, quickly falling behind both Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the depth chart. Beyond his inconsistencies as a runner, the Steelers couldn't trust him to pass protect, leaving him with no clear route to more playing time.
While Johnson has resurrected his early career with the Packers, the Steelers struggled to get anything going on offense. They put up just three points in their loss to the New England Patriots, unable to finish their drives with touchdowns. Early in the season, it looks like Mike McCarthy's offense desperately needs an explosive element.
Would Johnson be the answer? Probably not. Even in a relatively strong debut performance for the Packers, he wasn't explosive with the ball in his hands. But the young running back's resurgence is just another reminder of the recent draft whiffs that have plagued the Steelers' offense.
Add us as a preferred source on Google