With a lot of expectations entering the 2025 season, the preseason opener last Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road was the first look at rookie third-round running back Kaleb Johnson inside a stadium.
That first look left some feeling a bit disappointed in the performance and the play style. Johnson had just 20 yards on eight carries, lacked any sort of explosion to his game, and wasn’t the tackle-breaking runner many thought the Steelers were getting right away.
Johnson also didn’t release into a pass route from pass protection in time, leading to a Mason Rudolph sack, and also dropped a pass later on in the game from Rudolph.