Kaleb Johnson needed one season to go from a third-round investment to the Pittsburgh Steelers' most obvious miss of the 2025 draft. The running back arrived with talk of a useful offensive role, then spent most game days as a spectator and lost his return job after a costly kickoff blunder against Seattle.
Johnson, 22, played 10 games without a start. His full NFL stats sit at 28 carries for 69 yards (a 2.5-yard average) and zero touchdowns, plus one catch for nine yards and eight kick returns for 190 yards. His career-high rushing game was 22 yards on six attempts against Minnesota, while his career-high return output was 132 yards in the opener against New York.
Pittsburgh responded by adding Rico Dowdle to split the lion's share with Jaylen Warren, signing proven special-teamer Travis Homer and drafting seventh-round multipurpose option Eli Heidenreich. Johnson wasn't competing for a featured role anymore. He was competing to prove he deserved a second season in Pittsburgh.
Kaleb Johnson must defend RB3 job before Pittsburgh Steelers consider a trade
Johnson landing third on the initial 2026 depth chart, ahead of Lew Nichols, Homer, and Heidenreich, counts as better news than many expected. Heidenreich has yet to prove he can handle an NFL role, and the coaches are giving Johnson a genuine chance to show his rookie year was a fluke.
Warren and Dowdle should own nearly every meaningful offensive snap if healthy, leaving the third back to dress because he can cover kicks, block on returns, and handle emergency work. Special teams exposed Johnson last year, which makes that part of camp likely to decide his roster status.
Homer already has seven NFL seasons of special-teams credibility, and Heidenreich offers receiving flexibility along with coverage potential. Johnson must outperform both in the jobs coaches actually need from an RB3.
A trade could eventually give Pittsburgh an off-ramp, and there are realistic Kaleb Johnson suitors that might value his age and college tape. His current value won't resemble the No. 83 pick used on him, so cutting him after one year would sting, while trading him for a late pick wouldn't feel much better.
Johnson has the first preseason depth chart on his side, which is more than he had when camp opened. He'll get his first chance to defend RB3 when the preseason games begin.
Add us as a preferred source on Google