Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson is expected to secure the No. 3 spot on the depth chart for the 2026 season. Beat writer Ray Fittipaldo made the assessment during a weekly chat on Wednesday. He cited the team's history with third-round picks entering their second year.
Fittipaldo said Johnson will rank behind Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren at running back. He added that the Steelers have not cut a third-round selection ahead of its second season in recent memory.
Johnson's 2025 rookie campaign featured just 51 offensive snaps and 11 on special teams. His most notable moment came in a game against the Seattle Seahawks, where he failed to down a kickoff that led to a touchdown.
The addition of Dowdle has raised questions about Johnson's future. Two other backs, Travis Homer and Eli Heidenreich, were added this offseason and bring special-teams experience.
Johnson ran for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns at Iowa in 2024. He will need a strong showing in training camp to impress head coach Mike McCarthy and the staff.