Steelers' Kaleb Johnson receives great news following worrisome roster changes

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft with high expectations. Johnson impressed scouts and coaches alike with his ability to make plays, even against stacked and loaded boxes during his college career at Iowa. His combination of vision, agility, and toughness made him one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft, and the Steelers were eager to see him translate that production to the professional level. The hope was that Johnson could become a reliable contributor on both offense and special teams, providing versatility in multiple roles as he developed.

However, Johnson’s transition to the NFL has been rocky. After an early mistake against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 last season, where he muffed a kick, Johnson struggled to regain his footing. The misstep seemed to linger in both perception and opportunity, as he never fully regained momentum or the confidence of the coaching staff on the field. In a league where timing and trust are everything, the error put him in a difficult position, leaving fans and analysts wondering if he could still carve out a meaningful role. Despite flashes of his potential in practice and limited game action, the setback created an uphill battle for Johnson to prove he belonged in the rotation as more than just a developmental player.

"Travis Homer has zero to do with what the Steelers think of Kaleb Johnson," Kaboly said on Monday.

This clarification provides a measure of relief for Johnson and Steelers supporters, reinforcing that the team still believes in his potential and remains committed to his development. With this reassurance, Johnson now has the opportunity to focus on growth and consistency without the added pressure of losing playing time due to roster changes.

However, that’s not necessarily the case, even if Kaboly suggests that the signing of Homer has nothing to do with the Steelers’ brass’ thoughts on Johnson. The truth is that Mike McCarthy didn’t draft Johnson, and he just brought his former 1,000-yard back, Rico Dowdle, to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are now well-positioned to have a strong one-two punch with Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, and even though they lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency, the running back room doesn’t skip a beat. In fact, many believe it actually gains a step. 

Steelers fans absolutely should still be holding stock in Kaleb Johnson

If Johnson can develop within this offense and earn some reps in the RB3 role, it would be a huge opportunity for him. However, he will need an outstanding training camp to make that happen. The good news is that Homer’s signing doesn’t appear to spell immediate trouble for Johnson, though it does create more competition on the depth chart.

There have been flashes from the young back, and with Dowdle and Warren ahead of him, it would seem that he should have the RB3 spot locked down. The concern, however, is that some insiders don’t believe the team fully trusts him in that role, citing a lack of confidence as a relative worry. Still, he is early in his career, and it’s far too soon to sound the alarm. With a new staff now in charge, it’s safe to say that Johnson should get another chance to earn playing time behind Dowdle and Warren. Steelers fans should hold their stock in Johnson.