The Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield got a lot more crowded in 2026, and that’s exactly why Kaleb Johnson is suddenly on shaky ground.
Pittsburgh added Rico Dowdle, Travis Homer, and Eli Heidenreich to a running back room that already had Jaylen Warren, and that kind of traffic jam is bad news for a 2025 third-round pick trying to carve out a role. Johnson already had a rough rookie year, finishing with 28 carries for 69 yards, a 2.5-yard average that didn’t do much to build confidence.
His most memorable moment from that season wasn’t even a run. It was a special teams mistake, when he failed to jump on a live football and the Seahawks recovered it for a touchdown.
Now the numbers behind Pittsburgh’s backfield usage make the situation look even tougher.
Since 2021, the Steelers’ lead running back has averaged 246 carries per season. The second back has averaged 101.
The third back? Just 20.83 carries a year, which works out to 1.24 carries per game over the past six seasons.
#Steelers running back rushing attempts by role since 2020:
If historic trends hold true, Kaleb Johnson would be in line for 1-2 carries per game if Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle stay healthy... and he doesn't offer special teams value. pic.twitter.com/EOpKDsSfex
- Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) July 9, 2026
That’s the problem for Johnson. Warren and Dowdle look locked into the top two spots based on production, experience, and contract figures, which leaves Johnson fighting for what amounts to the RB3 job. And even if he wins that battle, the payoff may be tiny.
At best, he could be looking at 1-2 carries per game. That’s not enough work for a back to settle in or find any kind of rhythm.
The special teams angle makes things even more precarious. Johnson was removed from kick return duties early in his rookie season and finished the year with only 11 special teams snaps. If he doesn’t show value there this summer, his path to a roster spot gets even narrower.
Right now, Johnson’s only real routes to playing time are pretty stark: either he has a huge August and forces the Steelers’ hand, or he waits for an injury to Warren or Dowdle. And that second path isn’t exactly comforting for anyone.
Fans can hope Johnson turns things around in his second season, but the historical usage pattern says the Steelers simply may not have enough carries to make their third running back relevant in 2026.
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