Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson is facing a steep uphill battle to make the roster for the upcoming season. After a disappointing rookie campaign, he is one of many players who can significantly benefit from a fresh start under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
However, a fresh start won’t guarantee Johnson gets a roster spot. He needs to add more to his arsenal of abilities, and the biggest area to add it may be what got him in trouble last season: kick and punt returns.
Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson Can Make Roster By Adding Key Skillset in 2026
Kaleb Johnson Could Very Quickly Provide Value as a Return Man
Kaden Wetjen, who didn’t receive a high grade in our Steelers draft report card, was brought in to fill the Calvin Austin role of being a depth receiver while also returning kicks and punts. However, the depth chart behind Wetjen is very foggy.
McCarthy has made it very clear he values versatility and won’t accept being one-dimensional as a player.
“If guys will make the 53-man roster, everybody has to have (at least) two jobs, unless you’re a kicker or a quarterback,” McCarthy told reporters, including PennLive reporter Nick Farabaugh.
As it stands currently, Johnson is only a running back, but returning kicks and punts is an area he can quickly learn for the Steelers. He will simply need to forget about his major gaffe last season against the Seattle Seahawks.
After one year in the NFL, that should be enough for him to understand the kickoff rules… or at least know them better than he did as a rookie. Johnson can thrive on special teams for the Steelers, using his raw speed, a trait that was on display when he ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
The Steelers commonly use two return men on kickoffs, and Johnson needs to embrace that role to significantly improve his chances of making the roster out of training camp.
Kaleb Johnson’s Roster Spot is Far From Secure for 2026
NFL teams don’t utilize three-man running back committees in the year 2026. Even someone who may be a little more “old school” like McCarthy, in comparison to Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, will never split carries between three running backs. The primary 1-2 punch for Pittsburgh this season is going to be between Jaylen Warren and newcomer Rico Dowdle, who spent time in Dallas with McCarthy.
Johnson is in a tough spot as he goes into Year 2, because there is a lot of untapped potential on the table if he can prove himself.
“When you invest the third round pick, right, in any player, they are not going to move on from that guy after one year,” Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo said on 93.7 The Fan. “Look at Chase Claypool, all the problems that he had, and they waited two and a half years before they got rid of him. So they’re going to give these guys every opportunity, every chance to prove their worth on this roster.”
Johnson isn’t the only second-year player who could find himself on the chopping block, as former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is in a very similar position. Howard, of course, is one of the exempt positions from McCarthy’s quote that doesn’t need to learn a second position. He simply needs to prove he is better and more valuable to the Steelers than veteran Mason Rudolph. Both of them will be given every chance to make the team and show why they deserve to stay.
In the case of the former Iowa Hawkeyes running back, it’s all about proving his worth through special teams. Kick returns could be his area of expertise until he proves himself ready for the running back room.
Main Photo Courtesy of Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
