The Pittsburgh Steelers are officially in the market for a new punter after Cameron Johnston reportedly suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The news comes from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who did not immediately reveal the exact injury. Johnston was hurt on a punt in the fourth quarter that saw a Falcons defender make contact with him.
Johnston had a fantastic offseason for the Steelers and looked poised to have a great season after signing a three-year, $9 million deal in free agency. The Steelers punter had a pair of kicks in the Week 1 contest and averaged north of 50 yards per.
When something like this happens, teams will typically turn to guys they know, and one of the punters the Steelers know well is Pressley Harvin III, who Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly believes will at least be on the team's radar.
Following Cameron Johnston’s Injury, Mark Kaboly ‘Would Guess’ Steelers Will Call Pressley Harvin III https://t.co/JNoSxa7I5c #Steelers #Pittsburgh #NFL pic.twitter.com/DxAFUGxSiW
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 9, 2024
A former seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2021, Harvin was with the team for three seasons and averaged 43.7 yards per punt and placed 75 of his 217 attempts inside the 20.
Harvin struggled with consistency during his three seasons in Pittsburgh and was routinely near the bottom of the league in both gross and net yards per punt, which led to the Steelers cutting him this offseason.
Harvin had a cup of coffee with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason but didn't make it past final cuts. We'll see if the Steelers give him a call, but there's a good chance they will.
