Kaleb Johnson, a 2025 third-round pick for the Steelers, opened with lofty college-hype and a path to replacing Najee Harris. Early NFL missteps—Week 1 fumbling and a Week 2 muffed kickoff that led to a Seahawks TD—have him off kickoff returns. Mike Tomlin publicly backs him but warns he must earn his way back, painting a tense start to a rookie season that now hinges on special-teams improvement and development behind a veteran-heavy depth chart.