The Pittsburgh Steelers’ first depth chart of the offseason has already sent a clear message about Kaleb Johnson.
For a player whose rookie year went sideways, the initial placement matters. Johnson came into the offseason with plenty of questions hanging over him after an ugly first season, one in which the offensive role people expected never materialized and he ended up looking more like a special teams problem than a solution. With the running back room reshaped, his path looked shaky.
Instead, the Steelers listed him as their third back, and that alone counts as a notable step up.
That’s not where this seemed headed a short time ago. Pittsburgh added Rico Dowdle as a capable second option next to Jaylen Warren, then brought in Travis Homer and drafted Eli Heidenreich.
Homer has the kind of special teams background teams usually want from a reserve back, while Heidenreich brings both offensive and special teams upside. Put all of that together, and Johnson looked like the easiest name to squeeze out.
But the depth chart suggests the Steelers are not ready to move on yet.
Johnson being listed ahead of Heidenreich is no surprise. The seventh-round rookie has not proven anything.
The more interesting part is that Johnson is also ahead of Homer. If Pittsburgh kept only three running backs, Homer would seem like the more obvious fit.
Instead, the Steelers appear willing to give Johnson a real chance to stick.
That chance is still conditional. He needs to keep showing it through the rest of training camp and into the preseason games.
But the early read is encouraging for a player who entered the summer on the ropes. If he really has started to turn things around, the Steelers may have more in store for him than anyone expected a few weeks ago.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have Real Doubt About Will Howards Backup Push
Will Howard came into Steelers training camp with a real chance to make the backup quarterback job interesting behind Aaron Rodgers, but the early returns have left the picture murkier. The rookie has shown enough to stay in the conversation, yet the separation many expected has not really arrived, and the competition has started to tilt toward a more familiar face as Pittsburgh keeps sorting out the depth chart.
Mason Rudolph has quietly made himself look like the steadier option for QB2, which raises the pressure on Howard as the preseason schedule starts to matter more. His next chance to change the narrative comes against Green Bay, where the Steelers will be watching closely for cleaner work on the throws that have been giving him trouble and for signs that he can force the decision a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Camp Just Raised A Real Question About Their QB Depth
The offense at Saint Vincent College has shown some signs of settling in during recent camp work, which is at least a step in the right direction for a Steelers unit still trying to find more consistency. The line has had its own encouraging moment too, with Anderson continuing to build a case for the starting right guard job and keeping that competition alive as camp moves along.
The bigger concern, though, is what the quarterback room looks like behind the top options. A rookie has had trouble with decision-making and accuracy, and when those issues show up in camp they tend to sharpen the focus on depth and development in a hurry. Pittsburgh has time to sort through it, but these sessions have made it clear the backup picture is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]