The Steelers’ preseason opener did little to clear up the backfield picture, and for Kaleb Johnson, it may have raised more questions than answers.
Pittsburgh entered the summer with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle sitting ahead of everyone else in the running back conversation, but the rest of the room has been difficult to sort out. Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich had been seen as realistic candidates for 53-man roster spots because of what they can do in the passing game and on special teams, yet neither has turned in a strong camp in Latrobe. That uneven stretch carried over into the Steelers’ win over the Green Bay Packers.
Johnson, meanwhile, hasn’t done much to push back against the idea that his rough rookie season was part of the problem rather than a temporary slump. The former All-American and 2025 third-round pick came into this year with the benefit of the doubt, especially with a new coaching staff giving him a fresh start. But his role and production against Green Bay suggested that patience may not be unlimited.
Pittsburgh’s ground game never really got going. The Steelers ran the ball 28 times and finished with just 72 yards, a 2.6-yard average. The offensive line had a rough night across the board, and that showed up in both pass protection and the run game, leaving the backs with very little room to work.
Still, Johnson’s issue wasn’t just the lack of blocking. Homer and Lew Nichols both played ahead of him, and Johnson didn’t get his first touch or offensive snap until the second half. When he finally entered the mix, he managed only three yards on two carries and didn’t show much burst.
Heidenreich finished as the main back late in the game, taking nine carries for 21 yards. Nichols led Pittsburgh’s backs with 35 yards on 11 touches, while Homer added 18 yards on six touches. No one stood out, but Johnson’s usage was the part that jumped off the page.
That’s the bigger concern now. It’s not just that he was quiet against Green Bay. It’s that he looks to have slipped down the pecking order in his second season, despite being a Day 2 pick last year.
Johnson did log three special teams snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, but that kind of contribution doesn’t move the needle much if he isn’t dependable as a runner. He doesn’t bring enough in the passing game or on special teams to mask a lack of production on the ground.
He was once viewed as a potential running back of the future for Pittsburgh. Right now, his stock is moving the other way. He may draw interest elsewhere because of his power, size and vision, but his spot with the Steelers is looking less secure by the day.
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