Diontae Johnson’s Pittsburgh Reunion Tour: Steelers Linked to WR After Rocky Ravens Exit
The Baltimore Ravens waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Friday, bringing an end to a short and unsuccessful stint with the franchise after they acquired him from the Carolina Panthers earlier this season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the expectation is Johnson will be claimed and named the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers as possible destinations, but NFL insider Ian Rapoport noted Sunday the possibility of a reunion with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rapoport echoed Schefter on the Chiefs and Chargers front.
Rapoport also pointed out the interesting timing of the Ravens’ decision to part ways with Johnson. If Baltimore had done it a day earlier, Pittsburgh could’ve swooped in and claimed him in order to play him in the rivalry matchup on Saturday. The Ravens wound up beating the Steelers 34-17 in that game, with Lamar Jackson getting his revenge.
Diontae Johnson played the first five seasons of his career with the Steelers, even earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2021. The wideout caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns that season.
Baltimore had high hopes for Johnson, but it didn’t work out. The veteran wide receiver refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13 and then got suspended for their Week 15 game against the New York Giants after the bye week. He and the team then mutually agreed for him to stay away from team facilities before he was ultimately released.
Johnson caught one pass for six yards in four games with Baltimore. Could he now return to where it all began for him in hopes of bouncing back?
Johnson has the familiarity with Mike Tomlin and Steelers success on his resume, but one has to wonder if they’ll be turned off with how things have played out this year. Stay tuned to see where Diontae Johnson lands.
