"Buried": Steelers Player On Roster Bubble Gets Brutal News About His Depth Chart Status

The Pittsburgh Steelers are inching closer and closer to training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It will be an exciting time for fans, but the guys in the locker room are also most likely amped up because things are expected to be done a lot differently with Mike McCarthy leading the way. It is a new era in the Steel City, which could be a great reality for some returning players who maybe haven't had a chance to prove themselves in the past. The workouts and exhibition contests from late July into August will be a pivotal time for the coaching staff to evaluate every single guy vying for a spot on the 53-man roster.

One of the more intriguing storylines about McCarthy being hired was the fact that the franchise was finally shifting to having a head coach whose focus is on the offensive side of the ball. This should eventually lead to a more dynamic unit that puts points up on the scoreboard, which would go a very long way in helping take some of the pressure off of the defense that has been constant for so many years.

The projected starters are almost set in stone on that side of the ball, aside from questions at the third wide receiver spot and on the line. There could be plenty of eyes on backups, however. A lot of discussion will be had regarding the second-string quarterback competition; however, there is a young playmaker who is looking to redeem himself after a pretty rough rookie season in 2025.

Kaleb Johnson was taken in the third round, but the combination of a horrible special teams blunder against the Seattle Seahawks and the emergence of eventual team Most Valuable Player Kenneth Gainwell left him with almost no opportunities. Unfortunately for Johnson, the Steelers signed Rico Dowdle to pair him with Jaylen Warren, leaving the second-year player in the dust once again.

During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday evening, team reporter Ray Fittipaldo noted how training camp doesn't even matter that much for Johnson because the bar is not set all that high at the moment.

"Yeah, I mean my take on Kaleb Johnson, he could have a great camp, but what does it mean if Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are healthy? He's still going to be buried on the depth chart as the number three running back," Fittipaldo said.

Barring injury, Fittipaldo is right. Johnson won't have a very clear path to playing time. There have even been murmurs about him potentially being cut if he cannot prove that he can be serviceable on special teams. Travis Homer has a legitimate case to grab a roster spot if the former third-round pick is unable to at least show that he can be useful in the third phase of the game.

A new coaching staff is probably better for Johnson, specifically because the old regime never seemed to get his kickoff blunder out of its head. It's hard to blame Mike Tomlin and co, though.

Teams don't often give up on guys drafted as early as Johnson was when the player is only in his second year. That's important to note, although, Fittipaldo made a great point. There isn't much of an avenue for the young ball carrier to steal snaps from the two veterans in the group. It's going to take a lot for him to explode onto the scene in 2026.

Steelers Are Likely Going To Ride Johnson For The Entire Preseason

What is working in Johnson's favor, however, is the fact that McCarthy will probably be against giving his top two running backs too much work in exhibition action. That means Johnson is going to get the opportunity to prove that he belongs on the roster, and maybe that he even deserves a series or two early on in the regular season. Homer's presence will provide some pressure and competition, which will be good for the positional group as a whole, anyway.

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