Let’s be honest — NFL fans live for a recovery story. Nothing grips us more than watching a player stumble early, only to pick themselves up and flip the narrative. And right now, no one in the league needs that turnaround more than Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson.
The hype was there from the start. Johnson, a third-round pick, entered training camp with buzz as a potential sleeper who could carve out a role in Pittsburgh’s backfield. But since the first snap of the season, things just haven’t gone his way.
Through three weeks, his stat line is almost hard to believe: negative one rushing yards on just two carries. That’s not the story you want attached to your name as a rookie trying to prove you belong.
And then came the lowlight that defined his young season so far. In the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Johnson was given a chance to contribute on special teams. Instead of a breakout, it became a blunder.
His failed attempt at downing a ball in the end zone led to a costly touchback that sealed Pittsburgh’s fate. Just like that, his early reputation shifted from “rookie to watch” to “rookie to hide.”
Head coach Mike Tomlin handled the moment as professionally as anyone could. He didn’t throw Johnson under the bus publicly, but you could sense the frustration. In the weeks that followed, it almost seemed like Tomlin made a silent vow to limit Johnson’s opportunities.
But here’s the reality: that vow can’t hold this week.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Kaleb Johnson to redeem himself in Week 4
The Steelers are heading into a must-win game in Dublin, Ireland, against the Minnesota Vikings. The stakes are high on multiple levels — not just in the standings, but in honoring the Rooney family’s legacy and playing in front of an international fanbase that’s been waiting years to see live NFL action.
This is not the moment to play short-handed, and with Jaylen Warren listed as questionable, Pittsburgh simply doesn’t have the luxury of leaving Johnson on the sidelines. Kenneth Gainwell has been steady, but he can’t carry the load alone.
That leaves Johnson with a golden opportunity to flip the script.
I can’t help but root for the kid. Every rookie faces adversity, and sometimes it comes faster than expected. For Johnson, it’s been a roller coaster start, but football careers aren’t defined by one mistake or a couple of slow games. They’re defined by how players respond when their number gets called again.
My bold prediction? Johnson sees a handful of snaps on offense this week, and he finds the end zone for the first time in his career. He’s earned that chance by keeping his head down, working through adversity, and staying ready.
A touchdown in Dublin would not only inject much-needed momentum into his season, but it could also help the Steelers keep their momentum alive in a game they can’t afford to drop.
Week 4 may be remembered as the moment Kaleb Johnson turned the page — not just for himself, but for his team.