Category: Diontae Johnson

Ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson not biting on shade from Mike Tomlin

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver had nothing but good things to say about his time with the team ahead of the Baltimore Ravens game.

Mike Tomlin’s brief statement on Diontae Johnson turned into media fodder moments after the words came out of his mouth.

The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach was merely factual when saying Johnson isn’t “on a lot of their video” because he’s not. The Steelers’ former top-producing receiver just arrived in Baltimore two weeks ago.

“To be honest, I haven’t thought a lot about him… They’ve got more significant pieces with larger roles that have occupied my attention at this part of the week,” Tomlin also said.

Two significant components of the Baltimore Ravens offense are Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher, and Lamar Jackson, who has the second-most passing yards with 2,669.

The media bit on Tomlin’s words, calling it “shade,” but Johnson has nothing but good things to say about going against the Steelers.

Man, I had a great career there. I loved it. Great city, people great there. I know what they’re about. I can’t wait to get to Sunday to just be back in that stadium. I’m ready to get back there just to see the good people that I made relationships with and stuff like that,” Johnson said. “But other than that, it’s a big moment for me.

Johnson hasn’t made an impact through two games in his new Ravens duds. But don’t think he isn’t itching to make a statement against his former team.

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Fans react to Mike Tomlin’s hilarious comments on Diontae Johnson

Steelers fans mock Diontae Johnson after Mike Tomlin’s comments, as bad blood brews before Week 11’s clash with the Ravens.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson just can’t catch a break! From frustrations in Pittsburgh to unhappiness in Carolina, and now disappointment in Baltimore, Johnson’s negativity seems to follow him wherever he goes.

His recent social media meltdown apparently stemmed from being used sparingly for two consecutive weeks by the Ravens.

As previously reported, Mike Tomlin took a subtle jab at the former Steelers receiver, smirking as he told reporters he’s more concerned with important players who actually get playing time.

Tomlin ultimately had to deal with quite a bit of immaturity from Johnson during the receiver’s time in Pittsburgh, including his struggle to make routine catches on the field, lack of effort on run plays, and his inconsistent attitude both on and off the field.

There’s no secret that some bad blood might be brewing as the team heads into the Week 11 contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Fans of the Steel City took this opportunity to let their boos rain down early on Johnson, with the prelude starting on social media. Here are some of the best reactions to Tomlin’s comments on Johnson.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has blunt reaction to facing Ravens WR Diontae Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers will face their ex-wide receiver Diontae Johnson in Week 11 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will defend a familiar face when they welcome the Baltimore Ravens to Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.

On Oct. 29, their former wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, was sent from the Carolina Panthers to Baltimore ahead of the trade deadline.

Johnson has struggled so far with his new team, logging just one reception for six yards in two games. All of that will likely change with the added motivation of playing against his former team.

As for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, he’s not worried about Johnson. “To be honest, I haven’t thought a lot about him,” Tomlin said in his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “At this stage in the week, I don’t know that I’ve weighed what he might mean to the matchup. They’ve got more significant pieces with larger roles that occupy my attention.”

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Fans react to Diontae Johnson’s recent drama in Baltimore

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson is seemingly back to stirring up drama in Baltimore.

Well, Baltimore, Pittsburgh tried to warn you. It has seemingly taken former Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson only two weeks with his new team to find himself embroiled in drama once again.

While Steelers fans laughed off the trade that sent Johnson from Carolina to the Ravens, no one could have predicted his impact would be minimal to nonexistent.

Johnson has played only 22 total snaps in his first two weeks with the Ravens, seeing just two targets and one reception for six yards during that time.

The former Steelers wide receiver proved exactly why Pittsburgh dealt him to Carolina in the first place, as Johnson took his frustrations—and immaturity—to social media following the Ravens’ Week 10 victory.

Johnson has since deleted the tweet, foreshadowing a potential implosion within the Ravens’ organization just waiting to happen. Here are some of the best fan reactions to Diontae Johnson’s Week 10 meltdown.

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Ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson falls on face with Ravens

Diontae Johnson wanted out of Pittsburgh and got his wish. Since then he has been with two teams in half a season’s time.

Diontae Johnson wanted out of Pittsburgh and got his wish. Since then Johnson’s been with two teams in half a season’s time, producing 31 receptions for 363 yards.

Johnson, traded from the suffering Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl contending Baltimore Ravens in October, hasn’t had a great start with the Steelers biggest AFC North rival.

The one-time Pro Bowler is still getting accustom to his new offense, of course. But Johnson played more snaps (17) in his first outing in purple and black versus the Denver Broncos last week than he did last night (5) in the Cincinnati Bengals win.

Johnson slipped and fell running a route on a pass play from Lamar Jackson for an incompletion. He finished the game with one reception for six yards.

The Steelers take on Johnson and the Ravens next week in Pittsburgh, then on the road in Week 16.


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Former Steelers’ WR turned Raven a non-factor in Baltimore debut

Former Steeler and newly acquired Ravens WR Diontae Johnson had an underwhelming debut in Baltimore, making zero impact whatsoever.

While not every debut makes a splash, some fail to even make a ripple. This is exactly the reality Diontae Johnson faced in his first appearance with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. The former Steelers WR did his best impression of Roman Wilson’s regular-season debut. Not only did Johnson fail to record a single catch, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson didn’t target him at all during the contest. 

While his playing time was limited, similar to how Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin handled Wilson’s first career NFL regular-season game, his inability to make even a slight impact begs the question: was too much stock put into his arrival with the Ravens?

While Johnson has yet to be given the chance to highlight some of his less-than-lovable qualities, such as his tendency to give up on plays, his lack of consistency in run blocking, and his plethora of dropped passes, fans of Pittsburgh should be excited about the opportunity to showcase, in Week 11’s matchup with the Ravens, why acquiring Donte Jackson was well worth the price they paid in trading Johnson to Carolina. 

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Sorry, Baltimore: The Steelers didn’t want Diontae Johnson for good reason

While Baltimore may be excited to acquire Diontae Johnson from Carolina, the former Steelers WR carries a lot of baggage as well.

Memo to Ravens fans: Be careful what you wish for. While the Steel City faithful appreciate wide receiver Diontae Johnson’s efforts as an elite route-runner for Pittsburgh from 2019-2023, fans will be quick to remind Baltimore exactly why he was traded away to Carolina last offseason. 

Johnson struggled with making routine catches early in his career and bore more than his fair share of blame for drama in the Steel City, ranging from lack of effort on multiple plays to heated arguments with Steelers players and coaches. 

On a crucial play last season against the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Jaylen Warren fumbled the football, and Johnson seemingly walked away from the opportunity to recover it. His initial response left much to be desired: “I’m not perfect.” 

Johnson was also involved in a heated locker room argument with free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after the safety took issue with Johnson’s treatment of the coaches on the sideline. 

Johnson was traded this week to the Baltimore Ravens from the Carolina Panthers, and he has certainly circled his new team’s Week 11 and Week 16 matchups with Pittsburgh.

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Panthers legend talks about addition of former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson

The Panthers need to tread lightly with Diontae Johnson.

For 10 seasons, Luke Kuechly was all-in for his Carolina Panthers. He spent eight years as a player and two more as a scout after he retired. If you want to know about the Panthers, this is the man to talk to.

Kuechly stays heavily connected to the franchise as they head into season two with Bryce Young at quarterback and he was on Up and Adams talking about it. Kuechly seems to think the addition of former Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is going to be huge for the Panthers offense.

“I think the Diontae Johnson thing is going to be a bigger deal than what we think. You know, obviously [Adam] Thielen is going to be able to control the slot, the middle of the field, but you need a guy on third down that can just go get open. They’re going to play man, you’re going to have inside help, they’re going to try to funnel you there. Who can just go straight up, win one-on-one man coverage, and that’s what he does really well.”

A word of warning to Panthers fans. Young is going to have to play much better than he did last season. Johnson’s immaturity was blatantly obvious last season when the Steelers offense struggled and he wasn’t getting the football.

He’s going to an offense with a young, struggling quarterback, much like Kenny Pickett was and his attitude turned sour in a hurry.

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Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson talks new energy with Panthers

Diontae Johnson says there’s a different energy in Carolina over Pittsburgh.

One of the many big moves the Pittsburgh Steelers made this offseason was trading away wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Mike Tomlin’s mantra is “volunteers not hostages” and it felt like Johnson wasn’t all in for the team.

Now Johnson is off to Carolina and the Steelers are scrambling to find a new starting wide receiver. Meanwhile, Johnson talked about the new energy of Panthers head coach Dave Canales compared to Tomlin.

“Once I got here, his energy was different,” said Johnson. “He’s a younger coach. I’ve been around Coach T (Mike Tomlin) for five years. Coach T’s serious. He’s about his business. I’m not saying Coach Canales is not. But they’ve both got different personalities.”

Tomlin has always been praised as a player’s coach and a leader of men. So we aren’t going to automatically assume Johnson’s comments are in any way negative towards his old coach.

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Steelers insider reveals motive behind Diontae Johnson divorce

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly revealed why the team traded receiver Diontae Johnson to the Panthers.

Addition by subtraction isn’t the case in the Pittsburgh Steelers trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The loss of their leading receiver is significant. It’s still early in the offseason, and the NFL draft is looming, but if the Steelers had a plan when they sent Johnson to Carolina, it hasn’t yet come to fruition.

Rumors surrounding Cincinnati Bengals free agent Tyler Boyd have simmered, and nothing has come of the Brandon Aiyuk talk that was once rampant.

As for why Johnson was traded, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic believes it was all about the money.

“Johnson was traded because he was heading into the final year of his contract, he wasn’t going to be re-signed and he felt the Steelers’ quarterback situation wasn’t going to put him in the position to cash out on another contract next year,” Kaboly wrote in his April 2 Steelers mailbag.

Though Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have yet to take a snap in a Steelers uniform, it’s hard to believe Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation is any worse than it had been since Ben Roethlisberger retired.

Johnson could’ve topped his career year of 2021, when he had 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns, but we’ll never know. And that’s OK.

He now has the opportunity to help struggling quarterback Bryce Young make a name for himself in the NFL.

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