SEPTEMBER 9: Johnston is indeed out for the year, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The Steelers will spend the coming days searching out replacement options for the remainder of the campaign as a result. Pittsburgh currently has roughly $16.3MM in cap space.
SEPTEMBER 8: After three years with punter Pressley Harvin III, the Steelers made the decision to move on with a new punter in 2024, signing former Texans leg Cameron Johnston. Unfortunately, it looks like they will be forced to find another solution to their punting game as Johnston has suffered what head coach Mike Tomlin called a “serious injury,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
On a punt in the fourth quarter of today’s win over the Falcons, Johnston’s kicking leg was hurt when a Falcons defender fell into it after Johnston landed following the kick. When the defender made contact, the knee appeared to pop, and Johnston collapsed to the turf in what looked to be a significant amount of pain. Johnston limped off the field after the trainers took a look, inspiring some hope, but he was later carted off the sideline into the locker room before the end of the contest.
Needing one more punt before the game came to a close, the Steelers turned to kicker Chris Boswell, who delivered a 43-yard punt. The responsibility isn’t a completely unfamiliar one to Boswell, who kicked field goals and punts during his time at Rice in college. He punted 15 times for the Owls with an average of 40.3 yards per punt. It doesn’t seem to be sustainable to rely on Boswell to perform both roles on special teams moving forward, though, so expect Pittsburgh to seek another solution while Johnston is out.
One such solution, though perhaps an unpopular one in Pittsburgh, could be to bring Harvin back. After being released by the Steelers, Harvin signed with the 49ers but was waived before the season began. Now, Harvin would be available to return for another stint, if invited. Over the past two seasons, Harvin averaged 43.83 yards per punt, placing the Steelers at 32nd in the league in that statistic, but with today’s injury, Pittsburgh may not have much of a choice. Johnston will undergo an MRI soon to determine his prognosis and the Steelers course of action.
It’s always so hard to get a punter without a dead leg, or a boomer that can’t punt inside the 20.
They cannot bring Harvin back. No way. Has to be someone out there better than Harvin. Offer a pick to a rebuilding team
What about college seniors from last year. Harvin cannot punt. Whatever happened to him messed him up he is a mess and would be the worst punter in the league. Can’t sign him.
Would rather have Boswell do the punting as well than bring back Harvin.
Great idea! Throw your kicker into a dangerous situation for no reason at all. Maybe you’d stick Pickens at DB if a corner goes down?
I think that Harvins brother died…it messed him up for a while. He never really got over it.
I feel for the guy, but bringing him back would be a mistake. They can find someone to punt.
I’d rather sign someone out of a nursing home than bring Harvin back
can’t believe that wasn’t a penalty on ATL
Dark…the officials blew a lot of calls in that game.. mostly against the Steelers….but the again Tomlin doesn’t like to throw the red flag
Can you challenge a non penalty call? I didn’t think you could
Marquette King is still good
There’s got to be a few options floating around on a practice squad
The defense did a good job against Atlanta. Fields got better as the game progressed but the kicker did a great job. Watt had a typical monster game. Patterson has to lick his chops over these kick return rules. He will have two returns for TDs this season, I predict.
I guess we’ll just have to wait, man. Hey — that’s it !!! Corliss Waitman !!!
It’s hard to imagine a player in any sport more vulnerable to an injury than a punter with one leg off the ground. You hit a guy who is exposed like that and the outcome will always be ugly.