Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson is not taking his extra reps for granted.
The start to Pittsburgh Steelers rooking running back Kaleb Johnson’s NFL career has been very disappointing. However, he earned a season-high opportunities in the team’s 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns, and he’s looking to continue building off it.
“I feel like, just how I came this week and how I performed and how I just had like my mindset on doing everything right in practice and learning from vets, Jaylen (Warren), Kenny (Gainwell) and them, and just giving my all every opportunity I get,” Johnson said.
Johnson carried the ball six times against the Browns, which tied for the second most with Gainwell and behind only Warren (11). He finished the game with just 15 yards, but his first carry caught the attention of many fans after he took it for nine yards.
The 22-year-old displayed the burst and toughness that made him a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
KALEB JOHNSON for 9!!!!!!! #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/SnGdg6LbDb
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 12, 2025
While Johnson didn’t light up the stat sheet, it was quite the bounce back from his Week 2 performance when he let a kickoff land at the 10-yard line and roll into the end zone, and instead of tracking it down for a touchback, he headed toward the sideline and Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani pounced on the ball for a touchdown.
Johnson credits the work he put in in practice this week for helping him finally catch up to the speed of the game and continuing to grow his confidence.
“It really takes you doing stuff in practice because a lot of people say what you do in practice will happen on the field,” Johnson continued. “So just applying myself that way and going with that mindset really helped me get more confident and get my feet wet in getting comfortable.”
Only time will tell if Johnson will continue carving out a larger role for himself in the Steelers offense, but if he can keep ripping off impressive runs like his first carry of the afternoon, it will be difficult to keep him off the field.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Johnson played college football at Iowa, where he racked up 1,537 yards on 240 carries (6.4 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Reflects on Earning More Opportunities
