Kaleb Johnson carried the ball twice against the Green Bay Packers. He gained four yards. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren combined for 17 carries.
Mike McCarthy benched the promising rookie after a preseason that suggested he belonged. The coach’s explanation was brief: “We wanted to see other guys.”
The numbers tell a different story. Johnson averaged 5.8 yards per carry across his first two preseason games. He forced three missed tackles on limited touches. He looked like the most explosive runner on Pittsburgh’s roster not named Warren.
He barely played against the Packers.
The Steelers have a problem at RB3. Johnson may not survive final cuts. The front office’s silence on his status speaks volumes.
The Vanishing Act: Johnson’s Preseason Snub
McCarthy’s post-game press conference offered little clarity. “We have tough decisions coming,” he said. “We needed to evaluate the back end of the roster.”
That evaluation involved watching undrafted free agents and practice-squad candidates carry the ball against Green Bay’s backups. Johnson watched from the sideline.
The tape from Johnson’s earlier preseason work is compelling. He runs with patience, then explodes through the hole. His vision on inside zone plays is notably advanced for a rookie. He catches the ball cleanly out of the backfield.
None of that mattered in Week 3 of the preseason.
Steelers fans noticed. Still Curtain’s Tommy Jaggi wrote that Johnson’s benching is “a fresh sign that Pittsburgh’s RB3 may not be on the roster.” PennLive commenters flooded the article with questions about the rookie’s status.
The coaching staff’s message is clear. They don’t trust him yet.
The Hidden RB3 Crisis: A House of Cards
Jaylen Warren enters 2026 on an expiring contract. He’s due for a significant payday. The Steelers haven’t extended him.
Najee Harris has missed time in each of his first three NFL seasons. His workload has been heavy. The cumulative effect of 900-plus carries is starting to show.
If Harris or Warren goes down, Pittsburgh’s third option is currently a question mark.
Johnson was supposed to answer that question. His preseason performance suggested he could. The coaching staff’s decision to bench him suggests otherwise.
The AFC North offers a sobering comparison. Cleveland’s third-string back has 40 career starts. Cincinnati’s RB3 was a third-round pick. Baltimore’s depth chart features a former 1,000-yard rusher as its fourth option.
Pittsburgh’s RB3 is a rookie who couldn’t get on the field in the preseason finale.
The talent gap could decide the division. The Steelers’ offensive line is improved. Their receiving corps is deeper. Their backfield, beyond the top two, is a liability.
Kaleb Johnson: In Danger of Being Cut?
The Fantasy Footballers flagged Johnson as a player in danger of being cut. Their analysis cites the Steelers’ roster crunch and Johnson’s special-teams limitations.
Johnson’s skill set is clear: he’s a between-the-tackles runner with burst. He doesn’t play special teams. He doesn’t block well enough to be trusted on third down. In a league where the 53rd man must contribute on coverage units, Johnson’s value is limited.
The financial calculus is straightforward. Johnson is a sixth-round pick with a minimal cap hit. The Steelers would save roughly $800,000 by cutting him. They’d spend that money on a veteran minimum contract for a special-teams ace.
The strategic calculus is more complicated.
| Scenario | Outcome | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson makes 53-man roster | RB3 with upside; limited special teams value | 35% |
| Johnson cut, clears waivers | Practice squad depth; no immediate impact | 30% |
| Johnson cut, claimed by another team | Immediate loss; rival gains depth | 25% |
| Johnson traded for late-round pick | Recoup value; front office moves on | 10% |
Several teams have needy backfields. The Dallas Cowboys lost their RB2 to free agency. The Chicago Bears’ backfield is thin behind D’Andre Swift. The New England Patriots are still searching for a complement to Rhamondre Stevenson.
Any of them would claim Johnson. The Steelers know this.
The Fatal Flaw Exposed: Derailing Pittsburgh’s Season
Picture the worst-case scenario. Week 8. Harris takes a helmet to the knee. He’s out six weeks. Warren becomes the starter. The RB3 role falls to a player who couldn’t beat out undrafted free agents in August.
The drop-off is catastrophic.
McCarthy’s offensive philosophy compounds the issue. He’s historically favored a bell-cow back. His Dallas teams featured Ezekiel Elliott on 300-plus carries. He doesn’t value a third running back in the traditional sense.
That philosophy works when the top two backs stay healthy. It fails catastrophically when they don’t.
Recent history offers a warning. The 2022 Baltimore Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards before the season. Their running game collapsed. They missed the playoffs.
The 2023 Cincinnati Bengals lost Joe Mixon for four games. Samaje Perine filled in admirably. The Bengals had invested in their RB3. They survived.
The 2024 San Francisco 49ers lost Christian McCaffrey for half the season. Jordan Mason stepped in. The 49ers had a capable backup. They made the NFC Championship.
The pattern is consistent: teams with a reliable RB3 survive injuries. Teams without one don’t.
What the Steelers Must Do Now
Three options exist. Each carries risk.
Option 1: Commit to Johnson. Give him a defined role. Increase his preseason reps. Design packages that maximize his strengths. The risk is that McCarthy’s reluctance is based on something the tape doesn’t show.
Option 2: Sign a veteran. The free-agent market still has names like Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt, and Melvin Gordon. These players are past their prime but know what McCarthy wants. The risk is that they’re no better than Johnson.
Option 3: Restructure Warren’s contract. Lock him up before free agency. This secures the RB2 spot long-term. The risk is committing significant money to a position the Steelers have historically devalued.
The front office has been silent. That silence is telling.
Pittsburgh’s offense is improved. The additions at quarterback, receiver, and offensive line have generated legitimate excitement. But the running back depth chart has a hole.
Kaleb Johnson’s benching is a warning sign. McCarthy’s explanation doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The front office’s silence doesn’t inspire confidence.
The Steelers have a choice. They can address the RB3 crisis now, or they can hope the season doesn’t expose it.
The 2026 campaign is too important to leave to chance.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why did Mike McCarthy bench Kaleb Johnson?
- A: McCarthy cited the need to evaluate other players at the back end of the roster, but Johnson’s strong preseason performance suggests the benching may be a strategic decision that could lead to his release.
- Q: What is Kaleb Johnson’s preseason performance?
- A: Johnson averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his first two preseason games and forced three missed tackles, showcasing explosive potential.
- Q: What are the implications for the Steelers’ RB3 position?
- A: If Johnson is cut, the Steelers risk lacking depth behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, potentially exposing a fatal flaw in their running game.
Extended Reading
The Fantasy Footballers’ analysis of Johnson’s roster risk provides additional context on the financial and strategic considerations. Still Curtain’s Tommy Jaggi offers the most detailed fan perspective on the mounting evidence that Johnson may not survive final cuts. PennLive’s direct quotes from McCarthy provide the primary source material for the coaching staff’s rationale.