Pittsburgh — According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost punter Cameron Johnston for the season after he suffered a knee injury in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons defenders hit Johnston during a punt in the second half, causing him to go down. The knock was initially thought to be a blow to his lower leg, but head coach Mike Tomlin stated after the game that it was “serious.” The squad now knows it will be without its starting punter for the rest of the season.
#Steelers punter Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s win over the #Falcons, sources say. A blow to Pittsburgh special teams in more ways than one, as Johnston was also the holder for Chris Boswell. pic.twitter.com/0Xia01VAGQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2024
Johnston signed a three-year contract with the Steelers in the summer, and his preseason performances sparked interest in him as a punter. That excitement will return next season, but the Steelers will be seeking for a replacement by 2024.
Pressley Harvin III, who has spent the last three seasons with Pittsburgh, could be the obvious choice. The former seventh-round pick was released this summer before the Steelers signed Johnston, but he is still a free agent and might return to the Steel City to help offset the loss.
Other options for the Steelers include Corless Waitman, who has previously played for the team. Pittsburgh will most likely make a signing in the coming days, hoping to have a new player on the roster before traveling to Denver for their Week 2 game against the Broncos.
