Steelers remove rookie Kaleb Johnson from kickoff role after costly Week 2 mistake
Mike Tomlin says Johnson must earn his way back after a kickoff bounced into the end zone and was recovered for a Seahawks touchdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers said rookie Kaleb Johnson will likely be removed from kickoff duties after a fourth-quarter mistake in Week 2 that resulted in a Seattle Seahawks touchdown.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he will give Johnson a chance to regain the role but that the rookie must earn it through his daily work. Tomlin did not commit to keeping Johnson off returns for the Week 3 game against the New England Patriots, saying only that the team will watch Johnson closely as he works to move past the error.
Johnson, a rookie, allowed a kickoff in the fourth quarter to bounce over his head and into the end zone. Under NFL rules, a ball that lands between the 20-yard line and the goal line and then bounces into the end zone remains live; Seattle's George Holani recovered the ball for a touchdown, cutting into Pittsburgh's momentum during a 31-17 loss. After the game Johnson said, "I just made a mistake. Got to stick to it, move on, and just continue to get better every day."
Tomlin declined to name who would handle kickoff returns while Johnson tries to regain the coach's trust. Veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell has return experience, the practice squad includes Trey Sermon, who returned kicks during the preseason, and receiver Roman Wilson has return experience from his collegiate career at Michigan. Tomlin emphasized the need for Johnson to acknowledge the mistake and demonstrate consistent, detailed work to earn the role back.
"I'm certainly going to give [Johnson] an opportunity to work his way back from that," Tomlin told reporters. "I believe in his talent. He's a sharp young man. He's a hard worker, and so you leave the light on for him. You give him an opportunity to move on from it, but he has to do that." Tomlin added that the decision would be influenced by Johnson's daily preparation, attention to detail and consistency.
The miscue came as the Steelers searched for stability in special teams. The play shifted field position and momentum late in the game and drew immediate scrutiny given the simplicity of the mistake. With the team preparing for its next game, coaches must balance giving a youngster room to learn with minimizing further errors that can directly affect outcomes.
Tomlin said the leadership's role includes providing opportunities for players to redeem themselves but also holding them accountable. "You've got to man up, you got to acknowledge your shortcomings, and then you got to work to move beyond it," he said. The Steelers will monitor practice and likely make a game-time decision on kickoff responsibilities ahead of Week 3.