Kaleb Johnson’s time in the Steelers’ doghouse could be coming to an end following telling comments from Mike Tomlin
Kaleb Johnson could see his role increase in the near future.
Kaleb Johnson wasn’t exactly a featured back before his game-costing blunder against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. But then Johnson didn’t see the field at all in Week 3 before appearing in just 17% of the team’s offensive snaps against the Minnesota Vikings, despite Jaylen Warren’s injury.
With Warren anticipated to return and Kenny Gainwell coming off a career game, it wouldn’t be wild to assume that Johnson would stay in the doghouse, essentially mimicking what happened with Roman Wilson last year.
But Mike Tomlin has bigger plans in store for Johnson.
Mike Tomlin is still bullish on Kaleb Johnson
“I think that he’s gonna continue to get better with opportunity,” said Tomlin of Johnson on Tuesday. “You know, he doesn’t have control over when those opportunities occur, and so when he gets them, he’d better make the best of them. I love the way that he’s working during the course of the work week from a practice perspective. And so, as I mentioned, we’ve got 13 straight games ahead of us. I’m sure he’s gonna get more opportunities to let his talent show and more importantly, to develop talent and experience.”
One thing you can be sure of with the Steelers is that they will give a young player every possible chance to prove them right via their draft selection. They did that with Kenny Pickett and George Pickens, and they have held onto players like DeMarvin Leal in hopes that he finally hits. Meaning, it’s far too soon to write off Johnson.
“He’s a third-year junior,” added Tomlin. “I don’t view that as a negative. I love to be a part of people’s growth and development, but at the same time, I don’t get amnesia. I don’t like that in the spring, and then hate that in the fall. And so as a leader, man, I embrace the get-better component of his profile, and sometimes that’s gonna require work. Sometimes it’s not always gonna be pleasant moments, but that’s what they pay me for.”
Johnson still has the makings of a franchise back. The size, the instincts, the demeanor, it’s all there.
Just because it’s been a bumpy start doesn’t mean it can’t be a smooth finish.
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