In 2024, the Pittsburgh Steelers completed with a 10-7 file. That was ok to make the wild-card weekend, however the Steelers misplaced 28-14 to the Ravens.
Final season, Najee Harris was Pittsburgh’s workhorse RB. He led the group with 263 carries and 1,043 dashing yards. Harris had 143 extra carries than backup Jaylen Warren. This offseason, the Steelers didn’t re-sign Harris. Within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL draft, the Steelers chosen RB Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa. On the group’s first official depth chart, Johnson is listed because the third-string RB.
The beginning RB job in Pittsburgh is not going to he handed to Kaleb Johnson
Kaleb Johnson RB 3 👀 https://t.co/47sxL8gSNN
— FootballFan (@BestBallGenius) August 5, 2025
It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers worth rookie RB Kaleb Johnson extremely. The 21-year-old matches the bodily profile of an every-down RB within the NFL. He’s six toes, 225 kilos. Throughout his closing season at Iowa, Kaleb Johnson rushed for a career-high 1,537 yards and 21 dashing touchdowns. In 2024, he was named a second-team All-American by the Related Press. Rookie Kaleb Johnson has the potential to return into the league and have immediate success.
Nonetheless, Pittsburgh will deal with this the “Steeler Means” because the 2025 season approaches. Kaleb Johnson shouldn’t be going to be handed the beginning job. Jaylen Warren was listed because the starter on the group’s first official depth chart. Kenneth Gainwell is the backup. That leaves rookie Kaleb Johnson as RB3. This isn’t a priority for many who know the way the Steelers function.
Off the preliminary Steelers’ depth chart, Tomlin is being Tomlin. Kaleb Johnson isn’t even the quantity 2 again, he’s sitting behind Warren & Gainwell (I don’t see that being the case for lengthy although).
— Trey Carney (@CarneyMedia) August 5, 2025
Jaylen Warren has served as a backup for every of the final three seasons. The 26-year-old has by no means began a recreation for the Steelers. Warren has appeared in a minimum of 15 video games in all three of his skilled seasons. Realizing head coach Mike Tomlin, he’ll possible begin the season with Jaylen Warren. That doesn’t imply Kalen Johnson is not going to see his justifiable share of motion.
Kaleb Johnson is third-string with two skilled RBs forward of him. It’ll take arduous work and continued success for the rookie to earn a beginning job with the Steelers. All through coaching camp, Johnson has taken first-team reps with Pittsburgh. It’s well-known that Steelers OC Arthur Smith likes to run the soccer. Kaleb Johnson proved he could be a workhorse RB in faculty and is ready to show that within the NFL. In some unspecified time in the future in 2025, Johnson ought to take over as beginning RB for the Steelers.
