Steelers Elevate Two Players Ahead of Cowboys Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated wide receiver Brandon Johnson and running back Jonathan Ward for Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, the team announced on Saturday.
Johnson will likely get a helmet over Roman Wilson, who appears not to be ready yet after missing nearly all of training camp and the first two games with a high ankle sprain. He was a healthy scratch the last two weeks, and the Steelers had only four wide receivers active against the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts.
Johnson spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos, recording 25 catches for 326 yards and five touchdowns. He was cut in late August as part of the Broncos’ trim down from 91 to 53 players.
Steelers wide receiver coach Zach Azzanni recruited Johnson when he was the recruiting coordinator/receivers coach at the University of Tennessee. Azzanni was also with the Broncos when Johnson signed with the club as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Broncos tried to bring Johnson back to their practice squad but he chose to go with the Steelers due to his strong connection with Azzanni and quarterback Russell Wilson.
The Steelers will be without running backs Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) on Sunday night, so Ward will serve as the No. 3 running back behind Aaron Shampklin and Najee Harris.
Ward, 26, had appeared to separate himself from the pack in the Steelers’ battle for a fourth running back spot early in training camp, but a late hamstring injury hampered his efforts to secure a roster spot. The Steelers had also been using Ward as a kickoff returner, alongside Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren, before his injury.
Playing in just one preseason game before the injury, Ward carried seven times for 29 yards, caught one pass for five yards and returned one kickoff for 25 yards against the Houston Texans.
Ward returned to practice before the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions, but was held out of that game, as well.
“Definitely [frustrating],” Ward said in late August. “There’s a lot of actors and what-ifs. Definitely not ideal to be hurt in any situation, especially not in preseason.”
The Steelers brought Ward in to rookie camp as a tryout way back in May, where he impressed and earned a contract. The 26-year-old is in his fifth pro season, having spent two and a half years each with the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans.
Ward’s best NFL season came in 2021, when he rushed nine times for 33 yards, caught three passes for 34 yards, and scored one touchdown.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
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