Steelers Now
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Following his kick return miscue in last week’s 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, rookie tailback Kaleb Johnson was relieved of his duties on Sunday. Trey Sermon and Kenneth Gainwell lined up deep to field Andy Borregales’ second-quarter kickoff. Gainwell brought it back 27 yards to the Steelers’ 34-yard line.
Kenneth Gainwell, Trey Sermon, Kaleb Johnson and Roman Wilson followed Jaylen Warren in the Steelers’ kickoff return line in warmups.
Former Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon felt Johnson should have had to sit out for a game because of his blunder. Johnson allowed the Seahawks kicker Jason Myers’ kickoff to bounce at the 10-yard line and roll into the end zone. Johnson began walking to the sideline as the ball came to a stop shy of the back line, allowing Seattle’s George Holani to pounce on it for a touchdown.
“For me personally, knowing that he’s not a big piece of the offense, he would sit next week. He would be inactive, and we’ll get guys back there that know the rules, that understand the rules, that understand how to play this game because it’s a game of inches,“ Carthon said on CBS Sports.
The Steelers added Sermon to their active roster after placing backup interior offensive lineman Max Scharping on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Sermon had also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles before landing with the Steelers after a tryout during rookie minicamp.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Reveal Kaleb Johnson’s Kick Returner Replacement
