Kaleb Johnson will get a fresh start in Green Bay. Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images
Aug. 30, 2026 Updated 2:29 pm EDT
The Green Bay Packers acquired running back Kaleb Johnson on Sunday in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team source confirmed. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t have permission to comment publicly.
Johnson, a 2025 third-round pick out of Iowa, provides depth at the position for Green Bay in case feature back Josh Jacobs is suspended. The Brown County District Attorney formally charged Jacobs with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property earlier this week. The NFL said in a statement that it is “closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review.”
The Packers already have MarShawn Lloyd as their No. 2 running back to take over if Jacobs misses time. Chris Brooks, a stout pass blocker, has been Green Bay’s No. 3 option. If Jacobs isn’t suspended before roster cuts are due at 6 p.m. ET Sunday, the Packers could keep four running backs on the initial 53-man roster.
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The trade ends Johnson’s brief and underwhelming tenure in Pittsburgh. Looking to tap into a talent-rich 2025 running back class, the Steelers believed that Johnson’s experience in Iowa’s wide-zone rushing attack would make him a fit in Arthur Smith’s offense. However, in Week 2 of his rookie season, Johnson made a costly special-teams blunder. He allowed a kickoff to bounce over his head, gifting the Seahawks a bizarre touchdown.
Johnson never earned back the coaching staff’s trust. He carried the ball 28 times for 69 yards with zero touchdowns last year. Johnson’s stock continued to fall this preseason. While he has a 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame, his limited play speed (4.57 40-yard dash) was evident. He lacked explosiveness and rarely created more than what was blocked.
It’s a tough look for the Steelers to move on from a third-round pick just one year after being drafted. It’s especially disappointing considering how other backs in the 2025 class have produced. Johnson was technically in a position battle for the RB3 job. Considering the Steelers have a steady 1-2 punch atop the depth chart in Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle, special teams was going to be a strong consideration. The way the Steelers split carries in the preseason suggested Johnson was likely on the outside looking in. Rather than cutting Johnson and having him sign elsewhere, Pittsburgh recouped some value with a trade.
Details of the trade have not yet been confirmed.
This story will be updated.
Aug 30, 2026
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