The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 season is already a faint memory, with the team rapidly turning the page to a coaching search in the immediate aftermath of last week’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. But for one Steelers player, the 2025 season will continue. Wide receiver Brandon Johnson, who had his practice squad contract with the Steelers expire on Monday, has signed with the practice squad of the Denver Broncos according to the NFL transactions page.
The Broncos are set to host the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game this Sunday. Denver has one significantly notable injury, as quarterback Bo Nix will miss the rest of the season, but the Broncos have two under-the-radar wide receiver absences, as well. Pat Bryant missed the team’s Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills while in the concussion protocol and Troy Franklin left that game with a hamstring injury.
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Johnson, 27, signed for a second stint with the Steelers on Dec. 24, following the suspension star receiver DK Metcalf. Johnson spent the rest of the regular season and the playoffs on the Pittsburgh practice squad, but was not elevated and did not appear in a game.
Johnson first joined the Steelers in 2024 as a member of the practice squad, after he had been released by the Broncos. He was called up for the maximum of three games while on the practice squad, making one catch for nine yards. Johnson then re-signed with the Steelers for the 2025 season in January.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Johnson at practice on Nov. 27, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Unfortunately, he suffered an undisclosed foot/ankle injury early in Pittsburgh’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. He was seen leaving the stadium with a walking boot on, and did not return to practice for the team in the preseason. Johnson was then waived with an injury designation as part of the team’s final cuts down to 53 players. He reverted to the injured reserve list but was later released with an injury settlement.
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This offseason, Johnson started OTAs with the first team while Metcalf was out, but he was unable to convert that positioning into a greater opportunity, with wide receivers Scotty Miller, Roman Wilson and Ke’Shawn Williams out-performing him ion the preseason.
Johnson finished the preseason with just five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Johnson joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in October after they had a flurry of injuries at wide receiver. However, he was released last week as they got healthier at the position.
Originally an undrafted free agent of the Broncos out of UCF in 2022, Johnson spent his first two seasons in Denver, appearing in 23 games and catching a total of 25 passes for 326 yards and five touchdowns.
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Aaron Becker contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: One Steelers Player Continues 2025 Season, Signing with Broncos
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