The running back-needy Green Bay Packers made a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire running back Kaleb Johnson, as reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, waiving Pierre Strong Jr. to make the trade happen. This move came after running back Josh Jacobs was to be placed on the commissioner's exempt list.
While on the exempt list, Jacobs will still be paid, but he will not be allowed to practice with the team or play in games. With a very concerning legal situation hanging over his head, all signs point to Jacobs missing a good chunk of time in the 2026 season while the punishments are sorted out.
Johnson is not a very well-regarded player after not even lasting one full season with the Steelers despite his status as a third-round pick, but with Jacobs possibly in line to spend most of 2026 away from the team, Johnson could go from an emergency addition to a long-term piece of the puzzle.
Green Bay Packers acquire RB Kaleb Johnson, Josh Jacobs placed on commissioner's exempt list
Johnson had fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh, especially after the coaching staff that drafted him left town. If Johnson is going to resurrect his NFL career anywhere, Green Bay seems like an interesting place to do so while chasing some success in the playoffs.
There's no nuance in Johnson's game. At 6-1 and 220 pounds, he is a classic north-south runner who is much more likely to run over you than make a quick cut to the outside. That style served him well during his final season at Iowa, where he ran for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Johnson's lack of shake proved to be crippling in the NFL. The former No. 83 overall pick's 4.57 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process and lack of lateral agility made him too limited to thrive in Pittsburgh. Johnson carried the ball just 28 times for 69 yards (2.5 per carry) and failed to find the end zone.
Kaleb Johnson provides the Green Bay Packers with running back depth after Josh Jacobs news
MarShawn Lloyd will likely begin the season as the No. 1 running back, but Johnson will join a crowded backfield that also includes Chris Brooks.
Losing Jacobs, who has run for 28 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Packers, is going to be an incalculable loss for Green Bay on the field.
Johnson can help cover for Jacobs if the Packers end up being without their standout running back for a good chunk of time.
However, even if Johnson turns back the clock to his Hawkeyes days, that won't be enough for the offense to be well and truly humming now that Jacobs is going to be barred from suiting up in the immediate future.
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