Kaleb Johnson - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Disappointing workload as rookie Johnson recorded 28 carries for 69 yards while securing one of two targets for nine yards over 10 appearances during the 2025 regular season.

Impact Although Johnson was a third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft, playing time was hard to come by during his rookie year, as he played double-digit offensive snaps in just one game. He was also a healthy scratch for the final three weeks of the regular season. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell served as the Steelers' clear top running backs throughout the year. Johnson could have a chance to compete for more work in 2026 if Gainwell -- who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent during the offseason -- heads elsewhere. Even if Gainwell plays for another team next year, Johnson could face an uphill battle for playing time as long as Warren remains in Pittsburgh.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

T.J. Watt and Lamar Jackson are active as the Steelers and Ravens face off for the AFC North title

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Remains inactive in Week 18 Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday night's contest against the Ravens.

Impact Johnson will be a healthy scratch for the third straight week to end the regular season. The Steelers will operate with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as their two options in the backfield versus Baltimore.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Healthy scratch again Johnson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns.

Impact Johnson finds himself a healthy scratch yet again. The Steelers have elected to ride with just two active running backs yet again, relying on Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. It seems that Johnson has been fully phased out, and it is likely he will remain a game-day scratch for the rest of the season.

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Week 16 Johnson (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's clash against the Lions.

Impact Johnson has been getting very little work on offense with just eight snaps over his past three games. He'll be entirely out of the picture Sunday, representing his fifth missed contest this season. Pittsburgh has just two running backs -- Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell -- active against Detroit.

DECEMBER 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Sees limited involvement once again Johnson rushed twice for four yards during Monday's 28-15 win over the Dolphins.

Impact Although Jaylen Warren was questionable for Monday's matchup due to an illness, he was able to suit up, and Johnson saw a minimal workload once again. He was on the field for just two offensive snaps and was limited to two carries for a third consecutive week. Kenneth Gainwell has been the primary beneficiary when Warren has been limited this year, and that's unlikely to change over the final few weeks of the regular season.

DECEMBER 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Another minimal workload in Week 14 Johnson rushed twice for four yards during Sunday's 27-22 win over the Ravens.

Impact The Steelers' running game failed to make much of an impact in Week 14, as Kenneth Gainwell led the team with four carries for 15 yards and a touchdown, while Jaylen Warren was inefficient by rushing eight times for 13 yards. However, those two backs saw nearly an even split of playing time, with Warren playing 50 percent of the offensive snaps and Gainwell playing 48 percent. Johnson was once again the clear No. 3 back, as he was on the field for just three offensive snaps against Baltimore. Johnson has been limited to single-digit snaps in each of his last five appearances, and he's rushed 12 times for 29 yards while securing his lone target for nine yards during that time.

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Two carries in Week 13 Johnson rushed twice for three yards during Sunday's 26-7 loss to Buffalo.

Impact Johnson didn't take the field during last week's loss to Chicago, and he played just three offensive snaps during Sunday's Week 13 matchup. The Steelers have continued to deploy Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell as their top two running backs, and Johnson is unlikely to have a fantasy-relevant role late in the year as long as those two remain healthy. Johnson has appeared in just eight games this season, rushing 24 times for 61 yards while securing one of two targets for nine yards.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't see field against Chicago Johnson didn't take the field during Sunday's 31-28 loss to Chicago.

Impact Johnson had been limited to single-digit offensive snaps in each of Pittsburgh's last three games, but he was held off the field altogether during Sunday's road loss. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell continue to serve as the Steelers' top two running backs, and Johnson has been unable to carve out a fantasy-relevant role to begin his rookie year.

NOVEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

The Steelers offense has a hidden spark waiting | Sporting News The Steelers have eased rookie running back Kaleb Johnson into the mix, but with a brutal stretch of games coming, it might be time to let t...

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Arthur Smith Explains Lack Of Touches For Steelers Rookie Running Back Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith explained why rookie running back Kaleb Johnson hasn't gotten a lot of touches.

NOVEMBER 20, 2025 • SPORTSNETPITTSBURGH.COM

Plays eight snaps in Week 11 Johnson rushed five times for 15 yards during Sunday's 34-12 win over the Bengals.

Impact Despite Sunday's lopsided score, the Steelers sustained several prominent injuries, including a wrist injury for Aaron Rodgers and an ankle injury that Jaylen Warren sustained in the third quarter. The latter's ailment led to a slightly increased role for Johnson, although Kenneth Gainwell saw the biggest uptick in usage. However, Warren said after the matchup that he could have returned to the game, so it seems likely that he'll be available for Pittsburgh's Week 12 tilt in Chicago. Assuming Warren and Gainwell remain available against the Bears, Johnson should continue to have minimal fantasy upside.

NOVEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Minimal production in Week 10 Johnson rushed twice for three yards during Sunday's 25-10 loss to the Chargers.

Impact Johnson was on the field for just four offensive snaps Sunday, and he didn't generate much production during the blowout loss. The rookie third-round pick has totaled just nine offensive snaps over the last four weeks, and he's been a non-factor in fantasy over the first half of the season, rushing 17 times for 43 yards while securing one of two targets for nine yards over six appearances.

NOVEMBER 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Limited to two touches in win Johnson rushed once for four yards while securing his lone target for nine yards during Sunday's 27-20 win over Indianapolis.

Impact Johnson didn't see any playing time in the Steelers' last two games, but he was on the field for five offensive snaps against the Colts. While it was encouraging to see him record a couple of touches, he remains firmly behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the depth chart.

NOVEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't play in Week 8 loss Johnson didn't take the field in Sunday's 35-25 loss to the Packers.

Impact Johnson's lack of usage continued during Sunday's primetime matchup, as he was held off the field for a second consecutive matchup. The rookie entered the season with intriguing potential, but Jaylen Warren has continued to operate as Pittsburgh's primary running back in 2025, while Kenneth Gainwell has consistently served as the No. 2 option. Johnson has appeared in just four games this season, rushing 14 times for 36 yards while failing to secure his lone target.

OCTOBER 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Why Kaleb Johnson isn't playing for Steelers despite draft status, lack of injury | Sporting News He was picked in the first half of the draft but hardly plays.

OCTOBER 27, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Doesn't see field in primetime Johnson was active but wasn't on the field for any snaps during Thursday's 33-31 loss to the Bengals.

Impact Johnson recorded six carries in each of the Steelers' last two games, but he was held off the field Thursday night despite being active. Jaylen Warren was dominant in Thursday's loss, racking up 158 yards from scrimmage, while Kenneth Gainwell was on the field for 39 percent of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, so work will likely continue to be hard to come by for Johnson as long as the team's top two running backs are healthy.

OCTOBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Records another six carries in win Johnson rushed six times for 15 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.

Impact Johnson saw six carries during the Steelers' Week 4 win over the Vikings, and he saw a similar workload following Pittsburgh's Week 5 bye. Jaylen Warren continues to serve as the team's clear lead back, but Johnson has seen slightly more opportunities over the past two games. The 22-year-old's 11 offensive snaps still lagged behind Warren (31) and Kenneth Gainwell (20), and Johnson's fantasy value will likely remain limited as long as those two remain healthy.

OCTOBER 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Records another six carries in win Johnson rushed six times for 15 yards during Sunday's 23-9 win over the Browns.

OCTOBER 13, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart Debate: Should Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell or Kaleb Johnson Be RB1? Who should get the nod as RB1 in the Steelers backfield between Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell?

OCTOBER 11, 2025 • THENEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Steelers may already wish they chose different RB instead of Kaleb Johnson We are only in Week 6 of the season, and the Pittsburgh Steelers may already regret not drafting a different running back than Kaleb Johnson...

OCTOBER 10, 2025 • STILLCURTAIN.COM

Steelers already showing buyer's remorse after rookie's early blunders The Pittsburgh Steelers consider whether they made the right decision in investing a third-round pick in Kaleb Johnson heading into Week 6.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 • STILLCURTAIN.COM

Mike Tomlin's non-Steelers rookie RB praise fuels Kaleb Johnson draft regret Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin just gushed over a rookie running back, but it wasn't Kaleb Johnson.

OCTOBER 8, 2025 • STILLCURTAIN.COM

Mike Tomlin offers hope for Kaleb Johnson amid Steelers rookie's disappointing season | Sporting News Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson is off to a terrible start to his NFL career, but head coach Mike Tomlin offered some hope fo...

OCTOBER 8, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Steelers coach drops bold prediction for Kaleb Johnson with pressure off The young rookie is heading in the right direction after a slow start for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his position coach sees big things co...

OCTOBER 1, 2025 • STILLCURTAIN.COM

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T.J. Watt and Lamar Jackson are active as the Steelers and Ravens face off for the AFC North title