NFL roster cutdown day is about to hit like a ton of bricks for hundreds of players across the league. By Sunday, every team has to trim their squad down to a lean 53, and believe me, front offices are working overtime right now, eyeing up potential trade targets or guys they might snag off the waiver wire. It’s a brutal time for guys on the bubble, and a former third-round pick for the Steelers, Kaleb Johnson, is feeling the heat, especially after a crucial blunder against our very own Seahawks last season.
That Seahawks Play Still Stings Kaleb Johnson
Man, remember last season, Week 2? Kaleb Johnson, the Steelers’ running back, had a blunder against our Hawks that he seemingly never recovered from. He mishandled a kickoff return, and our Seahawks scooped it up in the end zone for a touchdown. That’s the kind of play that can stick with you, and it looks like it absolutely did for Johnson. He was an “intriguing third-round pick” a year ago, but that mistake was clearly a turning point. He finished his rookie season with just 69 rushing yards on 28 carries, barely seeing the field. Now, with a new coaching staff in Pittsburgh, he’s apparently “fifth on the depth chart at best,” playing behind guys like Travis Homer and Lew Nichols even in the first preseason game. That’s just wild for a former third-rounder. Teams just don’t keep fifth-string tailbacks around, you know?
Odell Beckham Jr.’s Comeback Bid Is On The Ropes
While Kaleb Johnson is battling for his spot, another big name, Odell Beckham Jr., is trying to pull off a comeback with the Giants that’s getting tough to watch. OBJ hasn’t played for the Giants since 2018, and get this, he didn’t play *at all* last season. He’s 33 now, trying to make it happen again, and he’s had “some fun throwback highlights in camp.” But let’s be real, the Giants aren’t making decisions based on nostalgia. This dude needs to fit into their receiver rotation because contributing on special teams seems like a “farfetched” idea. And to make things worse? He dropped a touchdown in their second preseason game just last week. Ouch. Giants head coach John Harbaugh even got a little emotional talking about him, saying, “I mean, I love Odell. I do. What he’s doing, what he’s fighting for, I don’t know how it’s going to turn out.” If OBJ somehow makes it, it probably means 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt might be out. Or, even crazier, both could miss the roster!
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy’s Backup Battle
Away from the cut line, but still facing uncertainty, is Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. This guy was the 10th pick back in the 2024 draft, but he “struggled last season.” While it’s “unlikely to be cut,” he’s currently in a competition with Carson Wentz for the backup job. It looks like he might lose that battle and get pushed all the way down to third string by Week 1. Not exactly what you expect from a recent top-10 pick, is it?
This Sunday is gonna be wild. A lot of dreams are on the line for these guys, and for some, like Kaleb Johnson, those past mistakes, especially against our Hawks, might just come back to haunt them one last time. It’s the harsh reality of the NFL, and it’s coming fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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