Steelers confident 3rd-round pick Johnson will make immediate impact offensively

His 40 time was unimpressive. Profiles written about him in the lead-up to the draft were peppered with phrases such as “lacks sudden acceleration.” At times, “top-end speed” was regarded as his top weakness.

For a team in search of a replacement — upgrade? — over its four-year, reliable-but-underwhelming No. 1 running back, Kaleb Johnson’s profile could be viewed as … uninspiring. At least insofar as the third-round pick’s big-play abilities.

Luckily for the Pittsburgh Steelers,...