The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly moving on without running back Kaleb Johnson only a year after using a third-round draft pick on him.
The team is finalizing a deal to trade the second-year pro to the Packers, according to Tom Pelissero of Netflix Sports.
The 23-year-old was inactive for the final three games of last season and sat out four others in a disappointing rookie year. The arrival of coach Mike McCarthy was seemingly a clean slate for the former Iowa star, yet Johnson’s stock seemed to slide throughout the summer.
He was used sparingly in the first and third preseason games, playing eight snaps against the Packers and 10 against the Bills. He saw a larger workload against the Jets, playing 24 snaps, but never gained much traction while competing for the third running back job.
In all, Johnson rushed for 53 yards on 17 carries. His longest run was 6 yards.
The Packers have a need at running back with starter Josh Jacobs facing two misdemeanor charges, according to the Associated Press. ESPN reported Sunday that the NFL put Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list, making him unavailable to practice or play.
As a rookie, Johnson rushed for 69 yards on 28 carries. He also caught one pass for 9 yards. However, his most memorable play was a costly special teams gaffe that led to a touchdown for the Seahawks.
At Iowa, Johnson earned second-team All-American honors and was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year in 2024. The 6-foot-1, 224-pounder rushed for 1,537 yards that season and scored a school-record 23 touchdowns.
The Steelers drafted him with the 83rd overall pick in 2025. He was the sixth running back drafted last year.