PITTSBURGH -- Kaleb Johnson barely got a taste of the Steelers’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, logging just five snaps in the game.
That limited workload raised a few eyebrows, but Mike McCarthy said he expects the second-year running back to get more chances when Pittsburgh meets the New York Jets in the next preseason game. McCarthy stopped short of putting a specific number on Johnson’s snaps or carries.
“I hope so. If the guy calling the plays would run the ball more, I think it’d help him out.
So, we’ll just continue to work that way. But yeah, I mean he’ll play.
I mean he’ll play Friday night and hopefully play a bunch up in Buffalo. We do.
We really want to focus on the younger part of our team and give these guys a chance to make our squad.” McCarthy said.
Special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said Johnson has handled his reserve role well and has shown a strong approach in meetings and at practice. Crossman also pointed to the work Johnson has put in on special teams, even though he did not see a special teams snap against Green Bay.
“I think he’s been great. He’s very attentive in every meeting.
He gets a lot of reps from practice too. He understands the situation and how things work and then the running back.
I’ve been very happy with Kaleb (Johnson). I think he’s a very good football player,,,” Crossman said.
Johnson has been working as a returner, a kick coverage player and a wing on the punt protection unit as he tries to fit into a running back group that already includes players with special teams experience.
Even with that added work, he still needs live game reps to show what he can do. Right now, the picture is not exactly clear, and Johnson appears to be slipping out of favor as he fights to stay in the mix.
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