Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has fiery response to rookie's game-changing mistake

A critical mistake for the Steelers

The Steelers lost momentum and wound up losing, 31-17, in front of a home crowd of 66,347 fans at Acrisure Stadium. 

After the game, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said Johnson made a poor decision, and coaches have worked on the situation with the third-round pick at practices.

"It was poor judgment by a young player," Tomlin said via 93.7 The Fan, adding that the team works on the play, "every day of our lives."

Johnson vowed to work harder after the mistake, but didn't confirm if he knew about the rule before he allowed the ball to roll into the end zone and not recover it.

"Even if I wasn't sure, if I was sure, it doesn't matter," Johnson said. "I still gotta do what I gotta do, and I still gotta go in there, execute the way it needs to be executed."

Johnson finished the game with one yard on one carry. He returned three kickoffs for 58 yards in the loss.

The moment was a learning moment for Johnson and many returners around the league, as NFL kickoff rule changes have caused a number of early challenges for players and coaches this season. Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson admitted he made a mistake on a kickoff in the team's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1.