Steelers Cut Linebacker after Just One Week with Team

The Pittsburgh Steelers have released former New York Jets linebacker Caleb Johnson from their practice squad.

Johnson was just signed to the practice squad on Oct. 24 and he was with the team for only a few practices. An undrafted free agent out of Miami, Johnson joined the Jets this spring and played in four preseason games with New York, recording 13 tackles.

He was released in August and had not been with another team until the Steelers grabbed him. To replace Johnson, the Steelers signed former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mykal Walker.

A 6-foot-1, 235-pound native of Murrieta, California, Johnson started his college career at Texas, where he redshirted one season. Then he transferred to Fullerton College before joining UCLA and then the Hurricanes. He played in two seasons with the Bruins and one in Coral Gables. In total, he recorded 137 tackles, 11 for a loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three passes defended.

His best season came in 2020 at UCLA, when he had 44 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks an interception and a forced fumble.

The team has a full practice squad at 16 players, but still has an open spot on its 53-man roster.