Packers Acquire RB Kaleb Johnson as Jacobs Faces Legal Uncertainty

On August 30, 2026, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers completed a player exchange. The Packers received running back Kaleb Johnson, a former Iowa standout selected with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. In return, the Steelers will receive a 2028 sixth-round draft pick—the Packers’ own selection. The transaction coincided with the NFL’s final roster-cut deadline and followed the league’s placement of starting back Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

CBS SportsUSA TodayKaleb Johnson trade with Steelers labeled ‘good gamble’ for Packers by ESPN HeavyKaleb Johnson trade grades for Packers, Steelers Report: Steelers Making Trade To Send Former 3rd-Round Pick Kaleb Johnson To Packers

Josh Jacobs, the Packers’ three-time Pro Bowl running back, was placed on the exempt list after being charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal-damage offenses stemming from an incident on May 23 (arrested May 26) in Brown County, Wisconsin. While Jacobs remains under contract, he is barred from practicing or playing until the league’s disciplinary process concludes.

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Green Bay’s backfield, already thin, listed MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks as the primary backups. Johnson adds insurance and a potential third-down option should Jacobs miss time.

Kaleb Johnson trade grades for Packers, Steelers

Pittsburgh entered the offseason with a new coaching staff led by head coach Mike McCarthy. The Steelers’ depth chart featured Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle ahead of Johnson, making his roster spot tenuous and prompting the trade.

BREAKING: Steelers Trade former 3rd-Rd Pick, RB Kaleb Johnson

• Kaleb Johnson: 2025 rookie season – 28 carries for 69 yards (2.5 yd/carry), 1 reception for 9 yds, 8 kickoff returns for 190 yds; 10 games played.

Steelers fans have only one person to blame for Kaleb Johnson trade

• College (Iowa, 2024): 1,537 rushing yards, 21 touchdowns, Big Ten Running Back of the Year, consensus All-American.

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• Contract: Three-year, $3.25 million (non-guaranteed) deal with Green Bay.

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Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed Jacobs’ situation on August 28, 2026, stating, “I fully anticipate him being a member of our team,” and emphasizing the need to let the legal process play out while the team prepares for the season.

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An NFL spokesperson confirmed that Jacobs’ placement on the exempt list is “under review” and that the league is not obligated to wait for legal proceedings before imposing discipline.

Kaleb Johnson trade grades for Packers, Steelers

Initial reports varied on the compensation details, reflecting the evolving nature of trade disclosures on cut-down day.

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• “I fully anticipate him being a member of our team,” — Matt LaFleur, Packers head coach

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• “With Kaleb Johnson trade, Steelers have now parted ways with seven players who were drafted in the third round or higher since 2021,” — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry

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The Packers must finalize their 53-man roster before the September 13 season opener at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs’ status on the exempt list will determine whether Johnson sees meaningful snaps early in the campaign or remains a depth option behind Lloyd and Brooks. Pittsburgh will incorporate the acquired sixth-round pick into its 2028 draft strategy.

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