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Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson makes brutal mistake on kick return, hands Seahawks easy touchdown

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax09/14/25BarkleyTruax
Kaleb Johnson
© Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Seattle Seahawks were gifted a touchdown early in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It gave the Seahawks a two-score lead in a pivotal point of the game.

Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson fielded a kickoff that took an awkward bounce through his hands and into the end zone. The only issue was that it didn’t go through the back of the end zone. It was recovered by Seahawks RB George Holani for a touchdown.

Johnson hasn’t been featured much in the Pittsburgh rushing attack through two games. Before his costly muffed punt, Johnson had one carry for one yard during the game.

The Steelers will hope that Johnson puts the ill-timed mistake behind him, as Pittsburgh has high hopes for the young tailback. The team drafted him in the third round in April’s 2025 NFL Draft after Johnson firmly cemented his status as one of the best running backs in this draft class during his time with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Once he hung up his cleats at Iowa, Johnson finished with 2,779 rushing yards for his career, ranking him sixth in school history. He became just the fifth player in Hawkeye football history to have two 200-plus yard rushing games.

During his final season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson stacked up several accolades. After the 2024 season, Johnson brought home first team All-American honors from multiple media publications. He was also named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year, as well as first team All-Big Ten from the coaches and media. Johnson finished the year with 240 carries for 1,537 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. As a receiver, he hauled in 22 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.

Alex Highsmith injured vs. Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith is doubtful to return to Sunday’s game vs. the Seattle Seahawks after suffering an ankle injury in the first half, according to the team. Highsmith was limited in practice this week but is coming off a strong Week 1 performance with eight tackles last week vs. the Jets.

The 28-year-old Highsmith is in the midst of his sixth NFL season, all with Pittsburgh, and has established himself as an elite tackler throughout his first five years with 284 career total tackles including Week 1 of this current season. Highsmith was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Charlotte and has been a key defensive starter throughout much of his career to this point.

On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this report.