The initial phase of Kaleb Johnson’s first season has been quite underwhelming, marked by a significant error during a special teams play. This misstep, which occurred in the Week 2 game against the Seahawks, ultimately contributed to the opposing team scoring a touchdown.
As a consequence of this error, Johnson has been moved out of his special teams role, at least for now.
“I plan to offer him chances to regain his position after that mistake,” stated Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin this past Tuesday. “I value his potential. He’s a very bright young individual and puts in a lot of effort. We’re keeping the door open for him to improve. He needs to demonstrate his commitment through his daily performance and earn his way back into a position of participation. We’ll observe where things go from here, but I am definitely open to it.”
Johnson, who previously made a name for himself at Iowa, was selected by Pittsburgh during the third round of the draft. The aim was to fill the void left by Najee Harris, who had previously departed as a free agent. The expectation was for Johnson to play a substantial role in the Pittsburgh offense, working alongside the new starting running back, Jaylen Warren.
However, in the first two games, Johnson has yet to significantly contribute. In the Week 1 victory against the Jets, he carried the ball once for a gain of 1 yard. During Sunday’s game against Seattle, which resulted in a 31-17 loss, he recorded one carry for a loss of 2 yards. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, Johnson’s performance on Sunday included a fumbled kickoff, which led to a touchdown for the Seahawks.
“I simply need to improve each day,” Johnson commented after the game. “That’s all I have to say regarding the matter. … I just need to move on. It is part of football and life.”
While the slow start may have surprised many, the lack of immediate success for Johnson should not be entirely unexpected for those who followed the Steelers’ training camp and preseason. During that period, Johnson frequently appeared uncertain and lacked confidence.
Although Johnson displayed increased confidence and decisiveness in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game, his final average was still a modest 3.92 yards per carry. In addition, Johnson’s contribution to the passing game was minimal, with only 17 yards gained from three receptions.
Trey Sermon, a former third-round selection by the 49ers, actually outperformed Johnson during the preseason. Sermon managed to score touchdowns both by running and catching the ball. Although it wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the 53-man roster, Sermon’s strong preseason showing did earn him a place on the Pittsburgh practice squad.
For the time being, it seems that Warren is set to take on the bulk of the workload in the Steelers’ backfield until Johnson demonstrates the ability to perform effectively when called upon. In the game against Seattle on Sunday, Warren carried the ball 14 times for 48 yards. Furthermore, he successfully caught all four of his targets, gaining 86 yards. This included an impressive 65-yard catch-and-carry.
“Jaylen is an exceptional player,” mentioned quarterback Aaron Rodgers after Sunday’s game. “He is a valuable asset to the team. We might need to increase his opportunities in the passing game because positive outcomes tend to occur whenever he touches the ball.”
While Warren appears to be in line for more opportunities, Johnson still has considerable time during the season to alter the trajectory of his initial season. His coach anticipates that he will do exactly that.
“He hasn’t yet had the chance to demonstrate a physical response,” Tomlin stated regarding Johnson. “Beyond verbal commitments, it comes down to how he progresses in terms of his dedication, precision, and consistency. We will certainly be closely monitoring this as we move into the week.”
