BB.HE’S BACK? Former Steelers CB Tries Out for NFL Return After Serious Injury Comeback
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 16: Brandon Johnson #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the NFL Preseason 2025 game agains the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)Getty Images
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson is hoping for another NFL chance after suffering a foot injury that ended his preseason and Steelers tenure.
Johnson’s foot injury left him in a boot and forced him to miss time, but on Friday, he popped up for the first time since August by trying out for the New York Giants along with another slew of wide receivers. He hopes to land in New York, where he could get another NFL chance.
Before the injury, Johnson was in position to likely make the team’s practice squad. Instead, he was on the outside looking in, and the Steelers have three wide receivers on their current practice squad.
Johnson was in his second season with Pittsburgh after appearing in three games and catching 1 pass for 9 yards in 2024.
He caught a touchdown and had three receptions for 16 yards in Week 2 of the preseason against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Prior to joining the Steelers, Johnson spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Broncos, appearing in 20 games and catching 25 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns across the two seasons.
Johnson was talked up by wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni earlier this season.
“I don’t overlook him because this is the third place I’ve coached him,” Azzanni said. “I recruited him to Tennessee, I got him to Denver, he did the rest there. Helped get him here, thank God they listened to me and brought him here, because he’s a sneaky good player. I’m really excited about where he’s at, he can help us. I’m able to coach him hard, he’s our type of player.”
With Calvin Austin III hurt it is not out of the realm of possibility the Steelers could reach out to someone like Johnson, but it feels unlikely.
