Johnson signed a two-year contract with the Steelers on Thursday.
As a backup tight end in Pittsburgh last season, Johnson played in all 16 games and made five starts. He finished the regular season with seven receptions for 80 yards. He'll figure to be a backup once again in 2017 and shouldn't be expected to have much fantasy value.
Johnson was not targeted in the Steelers' 30-12 wild-card win against the Dolphins on Sunday.
Going without a touch is not unusual for Johnson. He played in all 16 games this season, recording just seven catches on 11 targets for 80 yards. An unrestricted free agent, his role is unlikely to change regardless of whether he returns to Pittsburgh or move on to another team next season.
Johnson caught his lone target for 15 yards in Sunday's 27-20 win over Buffalo.
The reception was Johnson's first in four games, and just his sixth on the season. Although Cincinnati yields the most fantasy points (PPR format) in the league to opposing tight ends, both Ladarius Green and Jesse James would have to be inactive in Week 15 for Johnson to warrant any fantasy consideration. Even then, there must be better options.
Johnson caught his only target for five yards in the Steelers' 24-16 win over the Bengals Sunday.
The one reception matches Johnson's total from 2015, and the five yards are the most he's put up in a season since 2013. In other words, unless your fantasy league rewards players for blocking, look elsewhere to fill your tight end needs.
Johnson will assume fullback duties in Monday's season opener against the Redskins, Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Johnson will be replacing starting fullback Roosevelt Nix, who will be sidelined in Week 1. Nix is the lone fullback on the team's roster, but Johnson has experience playing the role for both the Steelers and Chargers.
Johnson was signed by the Steelers on Tuesday, Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter of Washington reports.
Johnson, entering his eighth season in the league, will return to Pittsburgh after spending the last two seasons with the Chargers. In the past two seasons he has only recorded two receptions for a total of eight yards but will battle with Ladarius Green, Matt Spaeth, and Jesse James, among others, for playing time at tight end with longtime veteran Heath Miller retiring earlier in the offseason.
Johnson finished the 2015 season with only one reception for four yards and does not figure to be much of a factor in 2016 either.
Johnson was signed before the 2014 season as a blocking tight end and fullback, and he could very well return to a similar role in 2016, but he just does not touch the ball on offense at all.
The Chargers have rulled the following players as inactive for Sunday night's Week 14 matchup with the Patriots: nose tackles Ryan Carrethers (elbow) and Damion Square, running back Ronnie Brown, wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, guard Jeff Baca, tight end David Johnson and linebacker Cordarro Law.
Carrethers had already been ruled out for Sunday's game so his absence won't be unexpected. The team does have all three of its questionable players available for action, as linebacker Donald Butler (quad) and offensive linemen D.J. Fluker (concussion) and Chris Watt (calf) are active. Also active are all the team's probable players, including quarterback Philip Rivers (chest), defensive tackle Corey Liuget (knee) and linebacker Andrew Gachkar (knee).
The Chargers listed 16 players on their final injury report leading up to Week 6 at Oakland. Running backs Donald Brown (concussion) and Ryan Mathews (knee), along with linebacker Manti Te'o (foot) and cornerback Shareece Wright (knee) were ruled out for Sunday.
Deemed questionable were the following players: wide receiver Malcom Floyd (calf), tackle D.J. Fluker (ankle), outside linebackers Jarret Johnson (back, ankle) and Cordarro Law (ankle), offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger (back), safety Darrell Stuckey (quad) and linebacker Reggie Walker (ankle).
Wide receiver Keenan Allen (quad), outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring) and Dwight Freeney (knee), inside linebacker Donald Butler (shoulder) and tight end David Johnson (knee, shoulder) were the only players ruled probable for the game.
The Chargers will have their questionable players available for Week 5.
Dwight Freeney, David Johnson and Corey Liuget are all active for the contest. All three entered the week considered questionable, but will attempt to play.
The Chargers listed three players as questionable to play in Week 5 on Friday's final injury report, including linebacker Dwight Freeney (knee), defensive tackle Corey Liuget (concussion) and tight end David Johnson (shoudler).
Freeney didn't practice Thursday but was able to work in limited fashion on Wednesday and Friday. Johnson and Liuget returned to a full practice Friday.
The Chargers listed five players as probable to face the Jets in Week 5, including tight end Ladarius Green (hamstring), cornerback Jason Verrett (hamstring) and linebackers Donald Butler (shoulder), Jarret Johnson (shoulder) and Cordarro Law (ankle).
The following players have been ruled out for Week 5 action: running back Ryan Mathews (knee), offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger (back), cornerback Shareece Wright (knee) and linebackers Manti Te'o (foot), Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring) and Reggie Walker (ankle).
The Chargers have made Jason Verrett, Ryan Mathews, Manti Te'o , Reggie Walker, Rich Ohrnberger, David Johnson and Jeremiah Attaochu inactive for Week 4 against the Jaguars.
Mathews, Te'o and Walker had already been ruled out prior to the final injury report. Ohrnberger was listed as doubtful coming into the contest.
The Chargers have three tight ends on the injury report leading to their Week 4 showdown against Jacksonville. Antonio Gates, who is dealing with a hamstring issue, seems to be the only healthy one of the bunch, having practiced in full all three days. He was officially listed as probable for Sunday.
Meanwhile, Ladarius Green, who was a limited participant in Thursday's session despite nursing a hamstring issue, missed Friday's practice. He is listed as questionable and could end up being a game time decision. David Johnson has not been able to practice this week because of a shoulder injury. He is listed as questionable for Sunday.
The Chargers signed former Steelers tight end David Johnson to a two-year deal. He played in five games last season, making four catches for 70 yards, before going on IR with a wrist injury.
The Steelers had to make a few transactions Tuesday, which included placing two players on season-ending injured reserve. The Steelers placed offensive tackle Levi Brown (triceps) and tight end David Johnson (wrist) on injured reserve.
To take their roster spots, the Steelers signed free agent Richard Gordon and promoted cornerback Isaiah Green from the practice squad.
Steelers tight end David Johnson caught one pass for 8 yards during the Week 4 loss to the Vikings from London. Johnson was only targeted once in the game. The Steelers have a bye Week 5.
The Steelers received minor offensive contributions from a few role players Week 3 at home against the Bears.
Tight end David Johnson caught two of the three passes thrown his way by Ben Roethlisberger for 51 yards while tight end David Paulson caught one pass for a 6-yard gain. Fullback Will Johnson caught a 5-yard pass in the first quarter for his only action of the night. Wide receiver Markus Wheaton was targeted once and finished without a catch. He has yet to come down with a reception this season.
With Heath Miller out for the game, Steelers tight end David Johnson saw action in the Week 1 loss to Tennessee Sunday.
Johnson was targeted just once by Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game. He caught the ball and went for 11 yards. Miller may return for Week 2 at Cincinnati.
With starting tight end Heath Miller (knee) sidelined, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the team will use a "committee" approach at tight end. The Steelers have five tight ends on the roster -- Miller, Matt Spaeth, David Johnson, David Paulson and Michael Palmer.
Though, Spaeth (foot) could join Miller on the sidelines. Tomlin said Tuesday Spaeth is an option to be placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list.
In addition to tight end Heath Miller, the Steelers placed linebacker Sean Spence, defensive lineman Alameda Ta'amu and tight end David Johnson on the PUP list to begin training camp.