The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a practice squad swap to begin the team’s Week 17 set of practices. Per the team’s Wednesday press release, the Steelers have signed WR Brandon Johnson and released DL Kyler Baugh.

Johnson’s signing was reported Wednesday morning by The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. It’s Johnson’s second stint with the team after spending most of 2024 and the 2025 offseason with Pittsburgh. A former Denver Bronco with a relationship with WRs Coach Zach Azzanni and 2024 starting QB Russell Wilson, the Steelers signed Johnson ahead of the 2024 regular season. He appeared in three games for the Steelers last season, catching one pass for nine yards.

Johnson impressed during training camp and the preseason but suffered an injury and was waived/injured. Since, he’s bounced around on the tryout circuit and even had a workout with Pittsburgh earlier this year but did not sign.

In 23 career games, Johnson has 26 receptions for 335 yards and five touchdowns. He will add depth after WR Calvin Austin III’s hamstring injury and DK Metcalf’s suspension that will cause him to miss the rest of the regular season.

Here is what we wrote about Johnson in the summer.

“Call Brandon Johnson a touchdown machine. He finished camp with five touchdowns, second on the team only behind DK Metcalf’s 10. His 6’2 frame makes for an attractive target, and he uses it well. More than one-third of his camp catches, five of 14, found the end zone. That carried over to stadiums, Mason Rudolph finding him in a scramble drill versus Tampa Bay.

Johnson is more than a receiver. He received a substantial amount of special teams burn. Through two games, the only offensive player with more special teams snaps than Johnson’s 26 is RB Trey Sermon’s 29. After his Buccaneers ‘ score, Johnson even recorded the tackle on the ensuing kickoff. Talk about helping your cause.”

Pittsburgh signed Baugh during training camp as defensive line depth. He picked up a sack in the preseason and impressed enough to land on the practice squad, where he’s spent the regular season.

This was our training camp blurb summing up his game:

“Baugh was signed early in camp as defensive line depth. A round body and rotational defensive end/tackle who struggled to see consistent reps once the group got healthier and other players, like Breiden Fehoko, were brought back, Baugh plays with burst and an edge. Liked his power and jolt in the one-on-ones, even if his size and other traits weren’t impressive.”

A former undrafted free agent, Baugh has yet to appear in a regular season game.