LaFleur noted that Johnson has “done a nice job,” highlighting how his progress benefits from a carryover in experience and scheme. Johnson’s college background provides additional context for his quick adjustment. While at Iowa, he played under offensive coordinator Tim Lester, and his time with the Hawkeyes featured outside-zone concepts that align well with Green Bay’s run philosophy. LaFleur pointed out that Johnson’s familiarity with Lester’s offense, along with cross-pollination from other coaches he has worked with, has helped shorten his learning curve in Green Bay.
Johnson’s college production underscores why he was on the Packers’ radar even before the trade. During his final season at Iowa, he accumulated 1,537 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns on 240 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. He also finished the year with 23 total touchdowns, setting school records in some rushing categories. Those numbers demonstrated his capability to handle a substantial workload and to contribute across multiple rushing concepts, characteristics that align with the Packers’ outside-zone and zone-based run schemes.
Green Bay’s decision to bring Johnson into the fold came amid a broader reshaping of their backfield. With the absence of Jacobs due to his exempt-list status, the Packers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2028 sixth-round pick. Johnson’s transition to Green Bay represents an opportunity to reset his NFL trajectory after a modest rookie year with Pittsburgh. In 2025, he appeared in 10 games for the Steelers, rushing 28 times for 69 yards and catching a single pass for 9 yards. He also contributed as a kick returner, tallying eight returns for 190 yards, before being inactive for the final trio of Pittsburgh’s games. The trade, however, offered Johnson a fresh start in an offense that values his skill set.
Johnson’s familiarity with the Packers’ approach has been reinforced by prior coaching connections. He previously noted that Lester’s offense aligns with the outside-zone concepts used by Green Bay. That alignment likely speeds his acclimation, making him a candidate to contribute early in the season. In Pittsburgh, Arthur Smith praised Johnson after the Steelers drafted him No. 83 overall in 2025, describing him as instinctive and capable of operating across a variety of rushing concepts. Those assessments have carried into his current environment, where the Packers are counting on multiple backs to share the load and provide versatility in both running and pass-catching roles.
Green Bay’s depth chart now includes Johnson alongside MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks, among others. With Johnson’s ability to contribute as a runner and, potentially, as a receiver in space, he offers the Packers another option to diversify their ground game. The team will likely ease him into action, but his background and the coaching staff’s confidence suggest he could earn a meaningful workload as the season unfolds.
Looking ahead to Week 1, the Packers’ plan is to leverage Johnson’s strengths and the familiarity with a similar scheme to what he ran in college. The matchup against the Vikings will serve as an early test of his fit within Green Bay’s offensive system and his potential to become a consistent contributor in a backfield that has undergone notable changes this offseason. If Johnson continues to progress as anticipated, he could emerge as a dependable option in the Packers’ rushing attack, offering a balance of power, vision, and outside-zone execution that aligns with the team’s offensive philosophy.
In summary, Kaleb Johnson’s early progress has provided a promising avenue for Green Bay as they navigate a revamped backfield. His college production, combined with the strategic fit to the Packers’ scheme, positions him as a player to watch in the season opener and beyond. The ongoing development will determine how soon he can translate preseason momentum into regular-season impact, but the initial signs indicate Johnson could play an important role as Green Bay seeks stability and productivity from its running game.
