Pittsburgh Steelers rookie RB Kaleb Johnson’s NFL debut heartbreak came in a blink. In Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, a single misstep on a kickoff turned into a costly touchdown, swinging momentum and ultimately contributing to Pittsburgh’s 31-17 loss.

Johnson, tasked with fielding a pivotal kickoff late in the fourth quarter, mishandled the ball under the new NFL rules. As it bounced toward him, he failed to secure it, and Seahawks special teamer George Holani pounced, diving on the ball in the end zone for a rare touchdown. What should have been a routine play became a painful rookie lesson, one that head coach Mike Tomlin said “was just poor judgment from a young player.”  

Tomlin, speaking with Bob Pompeani on the September 20 episode of The Mike Tomlin Show, painted the moment as a teaching opportunity. “A young guy not being in tune with the NFL playing rules. The stage was a little big for him. It was obvious just watching it unfold, and so it’s a painful learning lesson for him. But not only for him, hopefully for all our young guys,” the HC added. “There are some subtle differences between the pro game and the college game. They gotta work their tails off to continually educate themselves so that they can make correct decisions at real speed.”

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith was also under fire for such a basic but critical mistake. After the game, Tomlin made a decisive call. Kaleb Johnson will not be returning kickoffs in the short term. “I’m certainly going to give him an opportunity to work back from that error. I believe in his talent. So, you leave the light on for him and give him an opportunity to move on from it, but he has to do that. He has to display that with his daily work and earn himself back in a position to participate,” Tomlin said.

Johnson’s mistake is now a defining moment in his young career, a humbling reminder that in the NFL, the margin for error is razor-thin. Tomlin underscored the importance of accountability: “You got to man up.”

For Johnson, this struggle is not the end but a challenge to grow. A moment to turn disappointment into determination. As the Steelers (1-1) prepare to face the New England Patriots (1-1) on Sunday, September 21. Can he bounce back and prove he belongs in the spotlight? For Johnson, the road to redemption has just begun. But the franchise is also looking for a solution.

Mike Tomlin is replacing Kaleb Johnson

The Steelers are giving veteran RB Trey Sermon a chance to make an impact in Week 3. On Saturday, a day before Pittsburgh’s matchup with the New England Patriots, Sermon was elevated from the practice squad to the Active/Inactive Roster for Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium.

“The Steelers made several roster moves on Saturday, including elevating running back Trey Sermon from the practice squad to the Active/Inactive Roster for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium,” Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley reported. “He will revert back to the practice squad after the game.”

Sermon, who has seen limited NFL action, has played in 42 career games across four seasons. In that span, he has 134 carries for 505 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards per attempt. He has also caught 22 passes for 138 yards, showing versatility as both a rusher and receiver. For rookie Kaleb Johnson, Sermon’s elevation could mean sitting out week 3.

Johnson has logged just two offensive snaps in each of his first two games. His costly week 2 kickoff error against the Seattle Seahawks led to head coach Mike Tomlin benching him from returning kicks in the short term. With Sermon in line for snaps, Johnson faces a crucial test in earning back trust and proving he can contribute.