The Latrobe Hills are scenic and beautiful to say the least, but what goes on the field and inside the locker rooms is a stark contrast to it. The camp brings harsh truths and reality checks, even for players who are in stride. That is the case for Kaleb Johnson. In his final season, he rushed for 1,537 yards on 240 attempts, averaging 6.4 yards per carry, and scored 21 touchdowns. He also contributed through the air with 22 receptions for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. But even though coming off a sensational college year in Iowa, he’s currently under the scrutiny of Mike Tomlin.
The excitement of his arrival was justified. Mike Nicastro, of Behind The Steel Curtain even expects Johnson to bring the Najee Harris quality to their game, “I’m not comparing Johnson brick by brick to the recently departed Najee Harris, but there will be similarities in the way he’s used regarding wearing down defenses, running between the tackles, and moving the sticks in short yardage.” But here’s the twist.
The rookie drafted in the third round this year, however, could not show that momentum during his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He managed just 20 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt, with one reception for six yards and another dropped target. Analysts quickly noted a lack of explosiveness and tentative footwork. And if we look at how Ray Fittipaldo puts it, that debut stung more than Johnson thought.
Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer Andrew Fillipponi quoted Fittipaldo while he spoke to 93.7 The Fan. On X, he wrote, “Excellent Steelers insider @rayfitt1 on @937theFan: ‘There’s no way the Steelers are going to trust Kaleb Johnson to pass protect or catch the ball out of the backfield. Fittipaldo does NOT see much of a role for Kaleb Johnson to start the season.”
Excellent Steelers insider @rayfitt1 on @937theFan: “There’s no way the Steelers are going to trust Kaleb Johnson to pass protect or catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Fittipaldo does NOT see much of a role for Kaleb Johnson to start the season. pic.twitter.com/tYNgmMxdNN
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) August 14, 2025
Johnson, on the other hand, spoke candidly about his performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the areas where he aims to get better. The Steelers have set high expectations for the RB, seeing him as the long-term solution at the position. Still, he recognizes that significant growth and development lie ahead. “There’s a lot of things that I can work on. I just wanted to get my feet wet and get a feel of the game. Everything’s faster. Just going out there and playing faster. Before the first game comes up, I’ll be all ready to go.”
Yet, Tomlin’s set of expectations isn’t the only weight on Johnson’s shoulders currently. The final day of training camp brought along some heat for Kaleb Johnson, and this time it was the team’s veteran with his eyes on the rookie.
Kaleb Johnson fell into the radar of Aaron Rodgers, as if Mike Tomlin wasn’t enough
On Tuesday, the final day of Steelers training camp brought more than just drills and evaluations: it gave us a glimpse of a young running back trying to earn his place while facing pressure. That describes exactly what happened between Aaron Rodgers and Kaleb Johnson. Rodgers is well-known for the tough love he puts on his teammates, and the Steelers’ rookie, already under Mike Tomlin’s crosshairs, wasn’t getting anything less.
Displaying his competitive intensity and exacting standards, Rodgers did not shy away from holding Kaleb Johnson accountable after a route mistake during practice. One observer noted during the practice session, “It wasn’t some hushed sideline chat. You could see Rodgers’ body language from across the field.” Previously, former NFL defensive end Chris Long had noted that Rodgers’ intense outbursts, when directed at teammates, have the potential to create tension, even between a seasoned quarterback like the four-time MVP and a high-profile player such as DK Metcalf.
Though it might seem intense initially, Rodgers’ veteran presence and high standards are likely to benefit the young players far more than they hurt, particularly for Johnson, who is still finding his footing in the NFL. Even Mike Tomlin wants to see Johnson improve, “I just want to see him trust himself more,” Tomlin said. “I want to see him play more instinctively, trust his talents. And that’s reasonable to expect between the first experience and the second experience.” Now, will he rise to these expectations? We all shall know as the season unfolds.
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