The Pittsburgh Steelers have turned to rookie running back Kaleb Johnson as the primary change-of-pace option behind Jaylen Warren. With the ground game sputtering this preseason, Johnson has an opportunity to carve out a bigger role if he continues to showcase his strengths. At 6'0" with an athletic frame, Johnson brings patience, vision, and balance to his runs, piling up explosive carries by trusting his blocks and shedding tacklers. To become a true every-down back, however, Johnson must improve his pass protection.
Aug 29, 2025 1:54 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson turned five carries into 24 yards and gained two yards on his only reception of a 19-10 exhibition win over the Carolina Panthers. Johnson was productive with most of his touches on Thursday night and did play a few snaps with Pittsburgh's first-team offense. The bad news, however, is that he entered the contest after both Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell got some run. Johnson also had a few opportunities on special teams in the first quarter, returning the opening kickoff and later a punt, both for gains of 22 yards. The rookie's role on offense isn't exactly clear heading into the regular season, but fantasy managers should not plan to deploy him as a reliable RB2 right away. Johnson is better viewed as a bench stash with the upside to become a valuable asset down the stretch.
Aug 22, 2025 11:18 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson handled 11 carries for 50 rushing yards and hauled in his only target for nine yards in a 17-14 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson once again struggled to find much room in the early going, but he managed to get loose a few times in the second and third quarters, including on a 14-yard scamper that marked the longest gain of his young NFL career. Although veteran halfback Jaylen Warren is primed to begin the campaign as the team's primary ballcarrier, Johnson, a third-round selection in April's draft, should mix in regularly and see an expanded role as the season progresses. His final audition before Week 1 will come against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
Aug 16, 2025 11:25 PM EST
According to Andrew Fillipponi, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson is unlikely to have a big role on offense early in the season. Johnson still needs to work on his pass protection and pass-catching ability before taking on a bigger role. It's still fairly early in training camp, so things could change from now to Week 1. The expectation is that Jaylen Warren will be the lead back to start the season. After that, Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell figure to get mixed in as change-of-pace backs. If Johnson improves quickly, he could see his role on the team grow rapidly. The Steelers are high on Johnson after taking him in the third-round, but it seems like the rookie back still has things to work on before he's ready to take on a larger workload.
Aug 15, 2025 9:20 AM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson turned eight carries into 20 rushing yards and hauled in one of two targets for six receiving yards in a 31-25 preseason win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie handled RB1 duties for Pittsburgh in the first half before he was eventually replaced by Trey Sermon, Evan Hull, and Lew Nichols. Although Johnson could not find much room to operate on Saturday, he notably ran through the arms of a diving Travis Hunter for a seven-yard gain early in the second quarter. The fact that veteran Jaylen Warren was inactive confirms his standing as the Steelers' featured back, meaning Johnson will need to earn playing time early in the regular season. His next opportunity to showcase his talents will come against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week.
Aug 10, 2025 12:43 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson could have his potential fantasy upside capped by limited playing time since he has been struggling in pass protection. Johnson has had a few impressive practices for the Steelers since they drafted him in the third round, and the team even listed him as a co-starter alongside Jaylen Warren. However, he was regularly beaten badly in Mike Tomlin's "Backs on Backers" drills, and his fantasy upside could be reduced if he can't stay on the field in passing situations. He wasn't especially strong in pass protection at Iowa, and he still has a lot of room for improvement based on these early returns. Jaylen Samuels and Kenneth Gainwell are much more proven and trusted pass protectors, which could give them the advantage in playing time since the team will be very careful with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Johnson still has time to improve before Week 1, but it could definitely reduce his role in the timeshare if he continues to struggle in pass protection.
Jul 31, 2025 9:18 AM EST
PG Sports Now's Brian Batko reports that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson was the second RB (behind Jaylen Warren) to work with the first-team offense in training camp practice on Thursday. Johnson is an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense, and although the Steelers have Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon and Cordarrelle Patterson (undisclosed), Johnson could have a nice little role in his first year in the NFL. Ideally, Johnson would be the No. 2 for Pittsburgh this year next to Warren. His production last year at Iowa was impressive -- 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries -- and he also has the benefit of being in a run-first offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Johnson will split touches with Warren, but he has enough big-play ability to be in play as an RB3/flex in fantasy right away.
Jul 25, 2025 3:19 PM EST
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo writes that rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson is an ideal scheme fit for Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Arthur Smith's offense after Iowa alum excelled on wide-zone runs with the Hawkeyes. Although the Steelers weren't very efficient, only three teams ran the football more in 2024. The 21-year-old Johnson has plenty of competition in Pittsburgh's backfield in his rookie campaign with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the fold, but he profiles as the team's back of the future and should get more chances out of the backfield as the season plays out. Johnson has a physical, bruising style and is also patient, which is reminiscent of former RB Najee Harris, but he should produce more big plays after racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on 240 carries in his final season at Iowa. He'll be more attractive in standard-scoring fantasy formats as an RB3/flex candidate.
Jul 15, 2025 6:48 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson knows he must improve his pass-blocking skills if he wants to earn the coaching staff's trust with the hope of becoming an "every-down back" sooner than later. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,537), rushing touchdowns (21) and all-purpose yards (1,725) at Iowa in 2024. He's a scheme fit for Pittsburgh's zone-centric offense given his efficient production, writes The Athletic's Mike DeFabo. Even if the 21-year-old doesn't catch a ton of passes, he could stand out in fantasy with his big-play ability. There's opportunity in the Steel City, too, with Najee Harris no longer in town. Johnson is likely going to share touches with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, but he probably has the highest fantasy upside of the trio already.
May 12, 2025 12:07 PM EST
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they signed third-round rookie running back Kale Johnson to his four-year deal. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Steelers took Johnson out of the University of Iowa with the 83rd overall pick. "Really explosive running back that we spent some time with on a 30 visit here," said offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. "One of the more instinctive backs that I've watched in a couple of years coming out of the draft." In 35 career games (22 starts) for the Hawkeyes, Johnson had 508 carries for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns, adding 29 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds and is a big bruising back with plenty of big-play potential. Johnson figures to eventually supplant Najee Harris as the Steelers' lead back after Harris left in free agency this offseason.
May 9, 2025 10:29 PM EST
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo lists Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson as a co-starter with Jaylen Warren in an early look at the team's positional battles this offseason. Johnson, who stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, is a physical back that is built to carry the load. It remains to be seen how the Steelers will divvy up the touches in their backfield in 2025, but it's widely believed that Johnson was taken with the 83rd overall pick to essentially replace Najee Harris, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. The 21-year-old had 240 carries for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for Iowa in 2024 and also caught 22 passes for 188 yards and two more TDs. Warren starred in a third-down role for Pittsburgh his first three years and will take valuable touches away from Johnson in his rookie campaign, even if Johnson is the go-to guy on early downs.
Apr 30, 2025 1:36 PM EST
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