The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very interesting situation brewing with the running back corps. Former third-round pick Kaleb Johnson is still trying to prove that he belongs despite this just being his second season, as there should be plenty of growth expected out of him. Meanwhile, his job is being challenged by three different guys, and they all have some sort of special teams ability, which the former Iowa Hawkeyes star has yet to show. It doesn't help that the team has been parading Eli Heidenreich around like he's a top pick even though he's just a seventh-rounder.
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Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers' preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers did not help Johnson's case at all. He had just two carries for three yards and got jumped on the depth chart by both Travis Homer and Lew Nichols. The latter got 10 carries, while Heidenreich got nine. Everything that happened in this exhibition match says that the recent third-round pick is going to get cut soon.
Insider Jim Wexell is not ready to jump to that conclusion, however. While making an appearance on Steel City Insider, he explained why Johnson is still the RB3 of the team despite the game flow saying otherwise.
"[Travis Homer's] got to pass block better if he's the third guy [in the running back room]," Wexell said. "It could've been, 'Hey, let's take a long look at Lew [Nichols] before we make a decision to move on from him. Let's take a long look at him,' and then maybe they want to take a long look at Kaleb [Johnson] next week. I wouldn't jump ahead of what the coaches' intentions are in only giving him the ball twice for three yards."
The best point that Wexell made here was Homer's pass blocking. If you're going to make the team as a last-string guy, you have to be able to do the dirty work. The veteran back does have good speed and elusiveness with the ability to work on special teams, but if he can't help in keeping his quarterback upright, it's going to be hard for him to squeak onto the final roster as opposed to the practice squad.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Travis Homer (21) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
In fact, Wexell praised Nichols' ability to pass block as well, and even went as far as to compare him to Jaylen Warren. However, it's hard to justify giving Nichols as many touches and snaps as he got just to "get a long look" at him before he gets cut. Friday's preseason game will determine if Wexell was right or if Johnson truly is the odd man out in this scenario.
Steelers Gave All Running Backs The Blueprint To Making The 53-Man Roster
Head Coach Mike McCarthy recently broke down what it takes to be the RB3: contribute on offense and special teams, as opposed to one or the other. The logic makes perfect sense, as many players use special teams to earn a roster spot. As mentioned before, you have to do the dirty work to make the cut, and that usually includes running down returns or helping your own team return kicks.
Homer is primarily a special teams guy, and it doesn't seem like he does enough offensively, so he may end up being one of the first running backs to be cut. Johnson will at least stay above him on the depth chart, but at the same time, he has never been a good special teams player. The Steelers have worked him at kickoff return again, but that may not be enough.
That leaves Nichols as the most likely candidate to win the RB3 role. He got the most carries in that preseason game with 10, he can pass block well, and he can work with the specialists. If he continues to see significant reps over Johnson in the second preseason game, that will likely signify that he has earned that spot once and for all.
What do you think about the idea that Johnson is still currently the RB3? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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