How did former Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson perform in first Packers game?

There were several former Pittsburgh Steelers who made their debuts with their new teams last Sunday, and 2025 third-round running back Kaleb Johnson was one of them.

Johnson was traded from the Steelers to the Green Bay Packers on roster cutdown day. Some speculated this move to Green Bay could be exactly what Johnson needed, a fresh start with a running back-needy team.

We at Steelers Wire decided to analyze his performance from his Packers debut and what it could mean for his 2026 season.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side, and Johnson unfortunately found that out the hard way in his Packers debut. Johnson, traded to a Packers team missing its starting running back, played only two snaps in his Green Bay debut. It wasn't on offense, however, but on special teams.

Considering Johnson played just a handful of special teams snaps, one could expect his ceiling to be a quality backup for Green Bay, while his floor may be worse than what he had in Pittsburgh: an RB4 when Jacobs returns. Johnson clearly didn't show the Packers coaching staff enough over the past few weeks to earn even a single snap on offense, which is a little concerning considering the running back woes plaguing the team.

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