{"id":95036,"date":"2025-09-18T16:29:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=95036"},"modified":"2025-09-18T16:29:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:29:40","slug":"ben-roethlisberger-predicts-grim-outlook-for-steelers-rookie-kaleb-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=95036","title":{"rendered":"Ben Roethlisberger Predicts Grim Outlook for Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"has-video wp-caption\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2234157567_3805d1.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"featured-widget-area\">\n<div id=\"heavy_multi_stn_video_player_widget-10\" class=\"stn-player-cls stn-player-container\">\n<div data-stn-player=\"g2m7hup2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Head coach Mike Tomlin explained to reporters this week\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0rookie running back\u00a0Kaleb Johnson\u00a0will not return kickoffs in Week 3. Johnson muffed a kickoff during the fourth quarter in the team\u2019s home opener Sunday. The mistake directly led to a\u00a0Seattle Seahawks\u00a0touchdown.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">While the Steelers are effectively benching the rookie, Tomlin explained to reporters Tuesday\u00a0he is leaving open\u00a0the possibility of Johnson regaining his job. But former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn\u2019t very optimistic that happens.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Roethlisberger argued on the latest episode of his podcast that Johnson might not play much at all for the remainder of his rookie campaign.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_1_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-1 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_1\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">\u201cAfter last week, not getting much action, and this week, that happening. Unless injuries or something happen, we may not see him again the rest of the year,\u201d Roethlisberger said,\u00a0via Steelers Depot\u2019s Joe Clark. \u201cThere\u2019s a chance. I don\u2019t want to just call it a doghouse, but it\u2019s tough.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">\u201cIt\u2019s a tough place, a tough situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Johnson\u2019s muffed turned a 3-point deficit into a 10-point difference versus the Seahawks. The Steelers were unable to overcome the mistake and suffered a 31-17 defeat.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Through two weeks,\u00a0Johnson has returned\u00a0eight kickoffs. He has averaged 23.8 yards per return with his longest return being 29 yards.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_2_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-2 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_2\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">On offense, Johnson has played only four snaps and recorded two touches. The rookie has rushed for minus-1 yard on two carries.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Ben Roethlisberger Proposes Dim Picture for Kaleb Johnson Playing Time<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">On the surface, it feels like a bold prediction to say Johnson won\u2019t see the field again for the last 15 games of his rookie season.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">The Steelers drafted Johnson in the third round of\u00a0the 2025 NFL Draft. Expectations were high for Johnson entering the season. Although Johnson didn\u2019t play much in the first two weeks, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if he saw more snaps as his first season progresses.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_3_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-3 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_3\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">But Roethlisberger\u2019s claim that Johnson might not receive another opportunity this season without an injury isn\u2019t all that bold either.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">The rookie is a distant third for the team\u2019s running backs in terms of offensive snaps through two weeks.\u00a0Jaylen Warren\u00a0and\u00a0Kenneth Gainwell\u00a0have essentially split snaps in the Steelers backfield.\u00a0Warren has played\u00a061 snaps while Gainwell has received 56 offensive snaps.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_4_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-4 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_4\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Johnson lined up for two offensive snaps in both Weeks 1 and 2.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">The Steelers have used the kickoff return team has a way to get Johnson on the field. But with the rookie losing that role, there\u2019s a strong chance he doesn\u2019t play at all in Week 3.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Should that happen, it might take either an injury or poor play from Warren and\/or Gainwell for Johnson to receive another chance.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_5_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-5 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_5\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Should Johnson Play on Special Teams Anyway?<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Again, Tomlin left open the possibility of Johnson getting another opportunity on the kickoff return team. But it might not be the worst thing in the world he\u2019s off the unit.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">After Johnson\u2019s muff Sunday,\u00a0pundits on social media\u00a0argued the Steelers shouldn\u2019t be using the rookie on special teams anyway.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_6_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-6 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_6\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Johnson is a between-the-tackle running back, which isn\u2019t typically a trait best suited for kickoff returns. Johnson returned very few kickoffs in college, so he\u2019s not experienced with the role either.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">That lack of experience showed with his huge blunder Sunday.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">Losing the kickoff return role will allow Johnson to focus on his running back duties. The Steelers running game with Warren and Gainwell during the first two weeks of the season\u00a0has averaged\u00a0only 62.5 yards per game.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">If that continues, the Steelers could turn to Johnson to jump start the team\u2019s ground attack. That\u2019s why the team drafted Johnson in the third round.\u00a0He led\u00a0the Big Ten with 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns last season.<\/p>\n<div id=\"AdThrive_Content_7_desktop\" class=\"adthrive-ad adthrive-content adthrive-content-7 adthrive-ad-cls\" data-google-query-id=\"\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/18190176,25816858\/AdThrive_Content_7\/5ad7479721520f50ab7da88e_0__container__\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"google-ad-manager-fallback-container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Articles \/ Paragraph Links\">It may be just as likely, though, that the team doesn\u2019t trust Johnson again this season unless they have no choice because of injuries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getty Head coach Mike Tomlin explained to reporters this week\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0rookie running back\u00a0Kaleb Johnson\u00a0will not return kickoffs in Week 3. Johnson muffed a kickoff during the fourth&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":95037,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ben Roethlisberger Predicts Grim Outlook for Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=95036\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ben Roethlisberger Predicts Grim Outlook for Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Getty Head coach Mike Tomlin explained to reporters this week\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers\u00a0rookie running back\u00a0Kaleb Johnson\u00a0will not return kickoffs in Week 3. 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