Kaleb Johnson is on the chopping block after just 1 season with Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a fairly high draft pick on running back Kaleb Johnson in 2025.

And all they had to show for that investment was 28 carries and one reception totaling 78 scoreless yards from scrimmage.

While it's almost unthinkable that a team would give up on a third-round pick this early in the process, Steelers Depot's Josh Carney thinks it's possible.

In an article naming four Steelers who are on the roster bubble ahead of minicamp, Carney named Johnson as one of them.

Here's why.

Though it’s a clean slate, Johnson doesn’t provide much on special teams and doesn’t move the needle as a pass-catching back. That will hinder him, as free-agent signee Travis Homer is a special-teams ace, and rookie seventh-round pick Eli Heidenreich has special-teams ability and is a dual-threat offensive weapon.

Johnson has earned some praise so far in OTAs, but he has an uphill battle ahead of him.

The Steelers did give Johnson a look on special teams in 2025, but that produced his most forgettable moment of the season, when Johnson failed to track down a kickoff that went over his head, resulting in the Seattle Seahawks recovering the live ball for a touchdown.

"I just made a mistake," Johnson said after the game. "Got to stick to it, move on, and just continue to get better every day."

Special teams is key for Kaleb Johnson