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One of the more interesting situations for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 came at the running back position. Free-agent signing Kenneth Gainwell ended up being voted as the team's Most Valuable Player, while rookie third-round draft selection Kaleb Johnson was almost nowhere to be found after a massive blunder on special teams against the Seattle Seahawks. Now, with Rico Dowdle arriving, it appears as if the former Iowa standout has a long road to competing for any kind of playing time, barring injury. Additionally, Travis Homer is an elite weapon in the third phase of the game and might be hard to cut come late August.
Jaylen Warren and Dowdle will be the one-two punch for the Steelers in 2026, but a lot is still on the table when it comes to who is slotted as third on the depth chart. Special teams will be important in this area, which is why it's not far-fetched to speculate if Johnson could be a surprising cut once the time comes. It could be an unexpected showdown throughout training camp and the preseason.
On Tuesday morning, The Athletic's Mike DeFabo dove into a lot of the different positional battles that will occur when the Steelers report to Latrobe. Johnson versus Homer is setting up to be something to watch.
"Typically the third running back on the depth chart suits up on game days primarily as a special-teamer," DeFabo wrote. "Coincidentally, Johnson found himself in the doghouse last year after a special-teams blunder, while Homer is an ace on those units."
It's hard to predict whether a new coaching staff will buy into Johnson's stock or not. It's possible that because he wasn't drafted under the incoming regime, giving up on him might be a little bit easier. However, he is going to have a chance to prove himself.
"It feels early to give up on a third-round pick, even if Johnson underwhelmed as a rookie," DeFabo noted. "His strength at Iowa was his confident and patient running style in a wide-zone offense. As a pro, he seemed to run timidly, almost afraid to make a mistake after his special-teams miscue. A new staff and fresh start might help Johnson. At the same time, to get his career back on track, Johnson might need to prove himself on special teams while he waits for a larger role in the offense."
It does feel way too early to give up on someone who possesses the talents that Johnson has. With that said, third-string ball carriers have to be elite on special teams to provide value, which is why the Steelers could be willing to take on a massive risk with the second-year player.
DeFabo suggested that one of these two guys could end up being waived. The issue with doing it to Johnson is that he might not find his way back to the practice squad.
"A possible scenario: Johnson makes the 53-man roster, while Homer is a practice-squad elevation on game days early in the season," DeFabo suggested. "Another RB-needy team that loses a player at that position during camp might be enticed by a third-round pick in his second season and sign Johnson if he’s waived on cutdown day. Homer would likely be easier to sneak through to the practice squad and then elevate on game days."
The Steelers could be put in a position where there are difficult decisions that need to be made regarding this duo. Ultimately, someone like Johnson could end up on Injured Reserve (IR), even if he suffers a small injury. This would give the coaching staff plenty of time to let Homer prove himself in meaningful football games, specifically while contributing on special teams.
Steelers Might Not Be Ready To Give Up On Johnson
One of the interesting parts about Johnson's situation is that both Warren and Dowdle are under contract through the 2027 campaign. If both stay healthy, the second-year running back really won't get any opportunities to prove that he is worth another contract. He will have some hurdles to leap over in the coming months, and it appears as if the first one will be showcasing special teams ability so Homer's presence isn't absolutely necessary.
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