The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to kick off the much-anticipated 2025 season against the New York Jets in a road contest in Week 1. Pittsburgh should be able to find a way to win the matchup, but anything can happen, especially with the amount of new faces that are being relied upon in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are going to come out and try to establish the run under Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, and it will be interesting to see if that is successful with a re-shuffled offensive line and the departure of former lead back Najee Harris.
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Steelers' Arthur Smith looks on while coaching up his offense during a home game in Pittsburgh during the 2024 NFL season.
Pittsburgh released its depth chart for Week 1 against the Jets, and unsurprisingly, Jaylen Warren was listed as the starting running back coming off of his new extension. Some fans were surprised to see rookie Kaleb Johnson listed as the third running back behind Kenneth Gainwell, but that was expected as Johnson continues to get comfortable and improve his game when it comes to pass protection. The rookie might not be in a position to make a huge impact right away, but second-year offensive lineman Troy Fautanu believes the back will take full advantage of his opportunities, which he made clear during an appearance on 102.5 WDVE on Friday.
"I believe that he's gonna be able to hit the ground running; I can't speak for how many carries he'll get or how much you'll see him throughout the season, but I know the opportunities that he will get. He'll make sure that he takes full advantage," Fautanu said. "So I'm super excited for him, man. He's a young guy that's always willing to learn."
Fautanu has been high on Johnson throughout training camp and the preseason. Fautanu was only able to play in one game during his rookie season in 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury, and his presence is expected to elevate the run game. This is something that Warren, Gainwell, and Johnson should be able to take advantage of, regardless of who is lined up in the backfield.
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Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, so the expectations aren't quite as high for the running back as they would be for a first-rounder. He will be given time to grow and develop before being thrusted into a major role, which is something Harris never got as a former first-round selection. The rookie running back is expected to be exceptional and is considered by many to be the future lead back in Pittsburgh, but that is something that is going to take time.
Johnson didn't look great at times in his first preseason performance, but he got better with each game. He displayed good vision and was able to stay up after the first contact on many of his runs, which is something that will help the offense get off to fast starts once he moves into a feature role. Some fans believe the back can surpass Warren during his rookie season, but realistically, that is something that is going to take time. Warren is one of the best pass protectors at running back in the NFL, so it will be hard to kick him off of the field.
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Steelers running backs for the 2025 season: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren.
Steelers Have A Great Group Of Running Backs In 2025
Despite losing Harris, the Steelers still have a good group of running backs in 2025. Warren has played well when given the opportunities, and he will be relied upon the most out of the three backs. Gainwell can do a little bit of everything, as he was the third down back for the Philadelphia Eagles as they won Super Bowl LIX at the end of the 2024 season. Johnson still has to prove himself, but he has all of the makings of a player who can become a reliable starter in the NFL.
What do you think about Fautanu's comments on Johnson? Let us know in the comments below!
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