SerpApi.Org
Last preseason, Pittsburgh Steelers punter Cameron Johnston returned from a 2024 season-ending injury and entered a competition with Corliss Waitman, who had replaced him that season. Despite appearing to have a strong preseason, Johnston was released during roster cutdowns. Waitman struggled in his follow-up 2025 season, and now Johnston has returned to Pittsburgh. He has an opportunity to prove the Steelers made the wrong decision last year.
Not only does Johnston have the starting job essentially secured, but he also has a chance to provide the Steelers with several things they have lacked. Pittsburgh needs stability at the punter position while also finding someone who can consistently perform at a high level. Johnston is nearing the end of his career, but he could give the Steelers exactly what they need in 2026.
Steelers have lacked stability at punter for years
The longest-tenured punter the Steelers have had since the 2010s was Jordan Berry, who held the job from 2015 to 2020. Since then, Pittsburgh has cycled through several punters, including Waitman and Johnston. The team also tried selecting Pressley Harvin III with a late Day 3 pick, but that experiment quickly went poorly. His struggles led to his release and opened the door for the Steelers to bring Johnston to Pittsburgh.
Kickers and punters are often afterthoughts for fans. However, when a team lacks reliability at those positions, they become impossible to ignore. The Steelers have not had the luxury of feeling comfortable with their punting situation for several years. That is especially notable considering how frequently they have punted since Berry left Pittsburgh.
Johnston now has the opportunity to give the Steelers a year of stability at a position that has lacked consistency.
Steelers might be Johnston’s final stop of his career
Johnston turned 34 this year. While kickers and punters can often have longer NFL careers than players at other positions, Johnston suffered a significant injury just two years ago. That injury could shorten the remaining years of his career. He enters his 10th season in the league after experiencing a decline in production last year with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. In four games, he averaged a career-low 44.5 yards per punt.
Although the sample size was limited, Johnston also posted a career-low 18.2% rate of punts landing inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. In 2023, that figure was 45.5%. That does not mean Johnston cannot return to his previous form and extend his career. The biggest question is whether he is healthy and fully recovered from the devastating 2024 injury.
