CLEVELAND – Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson was announced as a Sunday inactive for the second consecutive game in advance of a matchup at the Cleveland Browns.
Johnson also did not play during last week’s win at the Detroit Lions. The Steelers instead deployed veteran tight end Jonnu Smith as the third running back behind the lead tandem of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.
Johnson was projected to perhaps take over as the Steelers’ lead running back at some point in 2025 but has just 28 carries for 69 yards in 10 games. In four others aside from these two in which he was a healthy scratch, Johnson was in uniform but did not see the field.
Johnson was the Big Ten’s running back of the year in 2024 when he had 1,537 rushing yards for Iowa.
5 starters out
The Steelers had previously announced that five starters would not play in Cleveland because of injury: receiver Calvin Austin III (hamstring), cornerbacks Brandin Echols (groin) and James Pierre (calf), guard Isaac Seumalo (triceps) and outside linebacker T.J. Watt (lung).
Austin and Echols suffered their respective injuries during the win at Detroit. Seumalo did not play in that game. Watt and Pierre are missing a third consecutive game.
Watt returned to practice this week as he continues his recovery from suffering a partially collapsed lung while undergoing a “dry needling” procedure Dec. 10.
Despite missing the final two practices of the week because of illness, Pro Bowl Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey was in uniform Sunday.
Rookie Will Howard served as the “emergency” No. 3 quarterback.
As the Steelers had announced Saturday, cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and offensive lineman Jack Driscoll were in uniform against the Browns as practice-squad elevations.
Browns inactives
The Browns were without tight end David Njoku (knee), quarterback Dillion Gabriel (shoulder), cornerback Myles Harden (shoulder) and defensive tackle Sam Kamara (elbow) because of injury.
Former Steelers starting center Kendrick Green joined linebacker Winston Reid (back), offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers and receiver Jamari Thrash as healthy scratches.
Despite entering the weekend listed as questionable to play Sunday, starters at tight end (Harold Fannin), guard (Wyatt Teller) and running back (Dylan Sampson) did play against the Steelers. Fannin suffered a groin injury at practice Friday, and Teller had a calf ailment.
Sampson was expected to start in place of fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins after Judkins suffered a season-ending injury during Cleveland’s loss last week.
