Kaleb Johnson is officially heading to Lambeau Field, a move that shakes things up big time for the Green Bay Packers’ backfield! ESPN broke the news, and Johnson himself hit up Instagram, telling “Steelers Nation” goodbye and giving a shout-out to his new squad. The compensation going back to Pittsburgh? A 2028 sixth-round pick, Green Bay’s own, not the one they just snagged from Miami.
Pittsburgh Said See Ya, Green Bay Said What’s Up?
Remember Johnson? He was a third-round pick for the Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft, 83rd overall out of Iowa. This guy was a beast in college, a consensus All-American in 2024 and Big Ten Running Back of the Year. But his pro career? Man, it just hasn’t clicked yet. He had a rough start with a special teams miscue early in his rookie season last year, and it totally derailed any chance he had to climb the depth chart. He played in 10 games, no starts, just 28 carries for 69 yards, and one catch for 9 yards. Zero touchdowns. Talk about a tough break.
With Mike McCarthy now calling the shots in Pittsburgh, Johnson was clearly part of the old regime, and let’s be real, he was on the outside looking in. They’ve got Jayen Warren holding it down and just dropped $12.25 million on Rico Dowdle for two years in free agency. Those two are locked in as their top options, so Johnson became expendable. It’s a business, man.
The Jacobs Situation Is Wild
Now, why did Green Bay make this move? It’s all about that running back depth chart, which is a total mess right now. Josh Jacobs is their guy, the clear-cut starter when he’s around. But “when he’s around” is the operative phrase. Jacobs was charged with two misdemeanors for battery and property damage back in May, and the league put him on the commissioner’s exempt list on Sunday. That means potential punishment is coming, and he’s sidelined for now. Whoa.
Behind Jacobs, the Packers were looking at Marshawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. With Jacobs out and facing uncertainty, it totally makes sense why Green Bay went after Johnson. It’s a savvy play by the front office to add some insurance. They’re not just getting options; they’re taking a flyer on a guy who was highly regarded in college and was a Day 2 pick not that long ago. There’s still plenty of upside there, right?
The Packers earned a B+ for this trade. They get a low-cost, high-upside option for a backfield that suddenly needs bodies, and fast. What’s next is seeing how Johnson fits in, and honestly, everyone’s just holding their breath on the Josh Jacobs situation. Green Bay needs answers fast, and Johnson could be a major piece of that puzzle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply