Tag: Diontae Johnson

Texans weren’t only team in AFC playoff interested in former Ravens WR Diontae Johnson

Dionate Johnson is a Houston Texan, but another team wanted his services en route to a postseason bid.

Tank Dell’s season-ending knee injury put the Houston Texans in a bind. Luckily, a former No. 1 receiver was on the market at the proper moment.

Houston claimed former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers ahead of its Christmas Day matchup with the AFC North franchise on Monday afternoon.

While Johnson might be headed to Houston, the Texans weren’t the only playoff-caliber roster interested in adding the disgruntled Ravens star. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Los Angeles Chargers also put in a waiver claim for Johnson, thus creating the Harbaugh-to-Harbaugh bridge once more.

So, why did the Texans land Johnson? Based on the waiver order, Houston had top priority. Once you add in that both Dell and two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs are out for the year, it makes sense why one team needed him a bite more.

The Ravens waived Johnson on Friday, ending his underwhelming seven weeks with the team. Baltimore suspended him for one game after he refused to play in a loss against the Philadelphia Eagles last month. He was then excused from all team activities last week.

Houston is hoping to get the version of Johnson the Ravens traded before back in October from the Carolina Panthers. As Bryce Young’s top weapon, Johnson had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he was dealt for a fifth-round pick after seven games.

A third-round draft pick out of Toledo in 2019 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson has totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina and Baltimore.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.

New Texans WR Diontae Johnson could face former team twice before end of the season

New Texans WR Dionate Johnson could face off against the team that sent him packing twice before the end of the 2024 season.

It seems unlikely that new Houston Texans receiver Diontae Johnson will suit up this Wednesday against his former team.

Impossible? Not at all.

Johnson, who was claimed off waivers by the Texans Monday following the season-ending injury to Tank Dell, could take the field in a limited role on Wednesday when the Texans do battle on Christmas Day against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Sure, he could run a few go routes, make a play on a post pattern and call it a day. Meanwhile, he’d be doing against the team that sent him packing less than two months after trading for him to be a staple of the offense en route to the playoffs.

But this isn’t the only time the two franchises could face off against one another before the end of the 2024 campaign. If the postseason started today, Houston, which clinched the AFC South, would serve as the No. 4 seed and host MVP favorite Lamar Jackson and Baltimore once more on wild-card weekend.

The Ravens initially suspended Johnson before waiving the disgruntled pass-catcher on Friday afternoon. This was after the veteran receiver refused to play during the 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month.

Prior to joining Baltimore at the trade deadline, Johnson, 28, led the Carolina Panthers in with 30 catches for 357 receiving yards and three touchdown through the first seven games. He was shipped off to the Ravens in exchange for a future fifth-round pick.

A 2019 third-round pick out of Toldeo by the Steelers, Johnson has totaled 422 career catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns with Pittsburgh, Carolina, and Baltimore.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. as part of a Netflix double-header.

Texans claim Ravens WR Diontae Johnson off waivers amid Tank Dell injury

The Houston Texans have found their new Tank Dell replacement in Dionate Johnson.

The Houston Texans have found their Tank Dell replacement for the remainder of the 2024 season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Texans have claimed former Baltimore Ravens pass-catcher Dionate Johnson off waivers Monday following Dell’s season-ending knee injury.

The best part? Johnson would have been in Houston this week since the Texans take on the Ravens Wednesday afternoon as part of a Christmas double-header on Netflix.

Johnson, who was acquired by the Ravens from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, was expected to bolster a passing attack for reigning MVP Lamar Jackson amid a postseason run, but the two sides were at end during their brief marriage.

Earlier this month, Johnson was suspended by Baltimore for one game after he refused to play Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was then excused from team activities this past week.

He was placed on waivers Friday and was expected to land elsewhere in the AFC. Besides causing multiple headaches for the Ravens, Johnson played 39 snaps in four games and totaled one catch for six yards.

A third-round draft pick in 2019 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson has totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina and Baltimore.

He’ll need to take over as the No. 2 option opposite Nico Collins with Dell and Stefon Diggs out.

The Texans are thin at receiver beyond Collins after also losing Diggs to a torn ACL earlier this season. After suffering a torn ACL and dislocated knee in Saturday’s 27-19 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston’s options were scarce.

John Metchie III, Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson are other receivers on the Texans’ depth chart. Jared Wayne could be called up from the practice squad for a third time on Wednesday, but the team would have to add him to the active roster following the matchup.

Before being traded to Baltimore, the Steelers shipped Johnson off to the Panthers last offseason for a mid-round pick. He totaled 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina in seven games.

Johnson will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Disgrunted ex-Steelers WR claimed off waivers by Texans for playoff run

The Houston Texans claimed ex-Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson off waivers, drawing attention from Steelers fans and NFL insiders.

The Houston Texans made waves by claiming former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers, a move that caught the attention of Steelers fans and NFL insiders alike.

Johnson, who once showed flashes of brilliance in Pittsburgh, has had a rocky road since leaving the Steel City. After being traded to the Carolina Panthers and later released by the Baltimore Ravens, his lack of production this season made his availability less surprising but still noteworthy.

Seeing Johnson move around the league stirs mixed emotions from a Steelers perspective. While in Pittsburgh, he demonstrated dynamic route-running and big-play potential, though consistency and occasional drops plagued his tenure. The Steelers had high hopes for Johnson as a cornerstone in their passing attack. Still, the team ultimately decided to part ways as younger talent emerged, and Johnson made a stink about how the offense was being coordinated.

The Texans won the AFC South for a second consecutive season but lost wide receiver Tank Dell for the season after dislocating his knee cap on a touchdown catch.

The Ravens play the Texans in the 4:30 p.m. game on Christmas Day.

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Ravens could face Diontae Johnson twice over next four weeks after Texans claim WR

Ravens could face Diontae Johnson twice over next four weeks after Texans claim WR and Baltimore headed towards playoff game vs. Houston

Life has a funny way of working things out, and after two teams felt Diontae Johnson was not worth the headache, the former Steelers, Panthers, and Ravens wide receiver could have a significant role in the AFC playoffs.

Johnson has landed with Houston via waivers. If the postseason starts today, the No. 4 seeded Texans will host Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Christmas Day and again on Wild Card weekend. 

Johnson was waived ahead of the Ravens’ game against Pittsburgh, with the Texans and Chiefs among the expected pursuers.

The Ravens initially suspended Johnson before waiving the disgruntled wide receiver. With matchups against Texans and Browns remaining, Baltimore’s front office and Johnson initially agreed that Johnson would stay away from the team.

Johnson didn’t play a down in the Ravens’ 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and was suspended after refusing to enter the contest with Rashod Bateman injured.

Johnson, 28, led the Carolina Panthers in receptions (30), receiving yards (357), and touchdown catches (three) through the first seven games before being dealt to Baltimore on Oct. 29. The Ravens sent a fifth-round pick to Carolina for Johnson and a sixth-round selection. It was considered a low-risk move because the Panthers picked up most of Johnson’s remaining salary, leaving Baltimore to pay about $625,000.

In Johnson’s first game with the Ravens on Nov. 7, he caught one pass for Baltimore while playing five snaps. Over his next three games, Johnson was targeted three times with no receptions while participating in 17 snaps.

Johnson, A third-round pick in 2019 by the Steelers, has totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina, and Baltimore.

Texans claim Diontae Johnson off waivers ahead of Christmas Day game vs. Ravens

Houston Texans claim wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from Baltimore ahead of Christmas Day game vs. Ravens

Diontae Johnson has landed with the Houston Texans via waivers, which could affect multiple teams in the stretch run and postseason.

Johnson was waived ahead of the Ravens’ game against Pittsburgh, with the Texans and Chiefs among the expected pursuers.

The Ravens initially suspended Johnson before waiving the disgruntled wide receiver. With matchups against Texans and Browns remaining, Baltimore’s front office and Johnson initially agreed that Johnson would stay away from the team.

Johnson didn’t play a down in the Ravens’ 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and was suspended after refusing to enter the contest with Rashod Bateman injured.

Johnson, 28, led the Carolina Panthers in receptions (30), receiving yards (357), and touchdown catches (three) through the first seven games before being dealt to Baltimore on Oct. 29. The Ravens sent a fifth-round pick to Carolina for Johnson and a sixth-round selection. It was considered a low-risk move because the Panthers picked up most of Johnson’s remaining salary, leaving Baltimore to pay about $625,000.

In Johnson’s first game with the Ravens on Nov. 7, he caught one pass for Baltimore while playing five snaps. Over his next three games, Johnson was targeted three times with no receptions while participating in 17 snaps.

Johnson, A third-round pick in 2019 by the Steelers, has totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina, and Baltimore.

Mike Tomlin refuses to take the ‘Diontae Johnson-bait’

Mike Tomlin avoids speculation on a potential Steelers reunion with Diontae Johnson, leaving the decision shrouded in mystery.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the opportunity to bolster their wide receiver room with one of the greatest route runners currently in the NFL—a player they know very well: Diontae Johnson.

The question on every Steelers fan’s mind following his departure from the Baltimore Ravens is simple: Will the receiver-hungry Steelers take a chance on their former wide receiver?

Johnson has burned bridges with three organizations in less than one year—the Steelers, the Panthers, and now the Ravens—and reporters wasted little time trying to bait HC Mike Tomlin into shedding some light on the subject of giving Johnson a second chance.

During Sunday’s press conference, ahead of the Week 17 Christmas Day matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs, Tomlin was asked if the team was interested in claiming Johnson off waivers.

The Steelers head coach kept it short and sweet, showcasing his reluctance to fall for the media’s traps: “I have nothing to add about somebody not on our football team.”

Is Tomlin simply playing coy, or is the decision above his pay grade? Perhaps GM Omar Khan is already working to solidify the move, but only time will tell if Johnson will don the Black and Gold once more.

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Chargers pegged as potential landing spot for recently-waived wide receiver

The Chargers would be wise to upgrade their wide receiver room ahead of the playoffs.

Update: Diontae Johnson was claimed by the Texans.

The Chargers should look to improve their roster in any way they can ahead of the playoffs, and one positional room they could look to do so is at wide receiver.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles is someone to watch for WR Diontae Johnson, who was waived by the Ravens this past week.

Rapoport also cited the Chiefs and the Steelers as the two other potential landing spots for the wideout.

The Chargers are the highest of the three teams mentioned by waiver order. L.A. is No. 21 in waiver priority, followed by Pittsburgh at No. 25 and Kansas City at No. 32.

Johnson, a third-round draft pick in 2019 by the Steelers, has amassed 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, the Panthers and Baltimore.

Johnson’s most productive season came back in 2021 when he totaled 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.

Johnson would provide the Chargers’ wide receiver room with a playmaker with refined route-running skills who can create after the catch.

Ladd McConkey leads the group in receiving with 960 yards, and there is a big gap, with Joshua Palmer next with 543 yards, followed by Quentin Johnston with 477 yards.

Johnson can be claimed by a team starting Monday at 1 p.m. PT. Also, he has a minimum salary, so he is effectively a no-cost option for the Chargers if they choose to add him.

Tom Brady jabs Diontae Johnson and De’Vondre Campbell while praising Kyle Van Noy

Tom Brady jabs Diontae Johnson and De’Vondre Campbell while praising Kyle Van Noy’s toughness and durability

Kyle Van Noy entered Saturday afternoon with nine sacks, and he’s reached double digits on the season after a first-half sack on Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson.

Van Noy and Tom Brady were teammates on Patriots Super Bowl teams, and the future Hall of Fame quarterback was on the call for Baltimore and Pittsburgh at M&T Bank Stadium for the NFL on Fox.  While praising Van Noy’s toughness and durability, Brady jabbed former Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson and former 49ers linebacker DeVondre Campbell with a harsh but truthful comparison.

The San Francisco 49ers suspended Campbell for the rest of the regular season after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. The news from San Francisco came four days after Campbell’s refusal to go into a game against the Los Angeles Rams was decried by coaches and teammates as a “selfish” act.

Johnson was suspended after refusing to enter the Ravens 24-19 loss to the Eagles, and was subsequently suspended for his actions.

Johnson was excused from the team for the win over the Giants, and released prior to Saturday’s matchup against the Steelers.

Report: Chiefs among frontrunners to land waived WR Diontae Johnson

According to Adam Schefter, the Kansas City #Chiefs may be interested in claiming waived WR Diontae Johnson.

According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to show interest in claiming veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers after the Baltimore Ravens parted ways with the versatile pass-catcher this week.

News of Kansas City’s potential interest was broken just before the Chiefs kicked off their Week 16 matchup against the Houston Texans on Saturday, December 21.

Though it is unclear whether Johnson will fall far enough down the waiver order to be acquired by Kansas City remains unclear.

If the Chiefs get a chance to add him to their ailing receiving corps, fans should expect general manager Brett Veach to at least consider taking a chance on Johnson.

Kansas City has dealt with brutal injuries at key positions all season and is still without star wideout Rashee Rice, who saw his season end in the opening weeks of the Chiefs’ 2024 campaign.

Stay tuned to see if Veach decides to add Johnson to Kansas City’s roster before the playoffs.