Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith spoke about the team’s performance on the ground in a 17-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Saturday, and offered praise for Johnson:

Who should I draft for fantasy football in 2025? Fantasy football outlooks for TreVeyon Henderson, RJ Harvey, Kaleb Johnson, and our expert draft advice.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With no Jaylen Warren playing, the Pittsburgh Steelers threw rookie Kaleb Johnson to the wolves and allowed him to shoulder most of the workload in the first half of the team’s first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If we can imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 preseason as a typical sports movie, we’re at the mandatory “improvement montage” scene for the rookies. Like Herb Brooks in “Miracle” coaching up goalie Jim Craig.

Brian Baldinger broke down Kaleb Johnson's performance from Saturday night and Jim Nantz is bullish on the Steelers in 2025.

Johnson, who struggled in his first game against the Jaguars by being too tense by his own admission, said he played freely and stopped overthinking. There are still things on the field that he wants to improve, but his decision making is one area he felt took a leap.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson handled 11 carries for 50 rushing yards and hauled in his only target for nine yards in a 17-14 preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson once again struggled to find much room in the early going,

True believers bleat loudly about the “Steeler way.” But some of that preferred method is stupid. Like rewarding veterans who “wait their turn.” Like making rookies “earn it.” Those two notions may conspire to stifle the Steelers’ running game.