Tag: Diontae Johnson

Steelers WR Diontae Johnson named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Diontae Johnson had a huge game last week.

Last week was the breakout performance for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The guy who was drafted to replace Antonio Brown did a pretty good impression of him with his game against the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson’s big game earned him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 14.

Johnson returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown against the Cardinals. It was the first time the Steelers got a punt return for a score since Brown did it back in 2015. Johnson also pitched in 60 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

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Steelers vs Week 14 Gut Reactions

My observations and reactions to the Pittsburgh Steelers week 14 win against the Arizona Cardinals.

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers took care of business against a competitive Arizona Cardinals team in week 14. The defense continued to roll holding their fifth straight opponent to 21 or fewer points. Devlin Hodges turned in an efficient performance and became the first rookie undrafted free-agent quarterback to win his first three starts. The Steelers have won seven of their last eight games and control their playoff destiny. Here are my gut reactions:

Beating the Odds

It was good to see the Steelers actually get to play with a lead. The offensive game plan was still conservative, Hodges finished with 16 completions and a touchdown on 19 attempts, but that was good enough for a win. Just as important as Hodges 152 passing yards was the fact that he didn’t turn the ball over.

Hodges’ contributions as a rusher shouldn’t be overlooked either. He scrambled five times for 34 yards and ironically outrushed counterpart Kyler Murray. Hodges an undrafted free agent beat the first overall draft pick at his own game, but his solid performance was overshadowed by Dionte Johnson’s breakout day.

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Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Cleveland’s Damarious Randall says he’s received death threats for helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae J

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

In the aftermath of the Myles Garrett and Mason Rudolph debacle from last week, most of us forgot another incident from the same Browns vs. Steelers matchup; Cleveland’s Damarious Randall laying a helmet-to-helmet hit on Diontae Johnson.

Browns safety ejected for dirty hit on Diontae Johnson, and NFL fans were disgusted

A terrible piece of play.

Cleveland Browns safety Damarious Randall was ejected for a hit on Diontae Johnson that left the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver with blood coming out of his ear during Thursday Night Football in Week 11.

In the second half, Johnson couldn’t haul in a target from quarterback Mason Rudolph. After the ball fell through the receiver’s hands, Randall came flying in with his head forward for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Johnson. He was down on the field for a long time, but eventually walked slowly off the field with significant help from trainers.

Simply: there is no place for that kind of hit in the NFL. It’s exactly the kind of hit that the NFL has attempted to ban. The ejection was absolutely justified for what was clearly and illegal hit and probably a piece of dirty play.

Here’s a scary look at his ear after the hit.

CAUTION: the video shows blood.

Johnson’s injury followed concussions to receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and linebacker Ola Adeniyi, among other injuries to Pittsburgh players.

NFL fans and media members were particularly outspoken in their reaction to the hit on Johnson. They were clearly disgusted.

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Steelers WR Diontae Johnson being evaluated for a concussion

Three Steelers players have concussions tonight.

This is starting to get ridiculous. In the first half, the Steelers lost starting running back James Conner (shoulder) and starting wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and now the other starting wide receiver Diontae Johnson is being evaluated for a concussion and his return is questionable.

This leaves James Washington as the only viable receiving option on the field. The only other two healthy receivers are Johnny Holton who hasn’t caught a pass all season and Tevin Jones who was just signed today.

Miraculously the Steelers only trail the Browns 14-7 in the third quarter.

Watch: Damarious Randall ejected for helmet-to-helmet hit

Randall hit Dionate Johnson in the side of the head with his helmet and was ejected

Browns safety Damarious Randall has been ejected from the team’s Thursday Night Football game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on a defenseless receiver.

Randall ran into Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson after the ball had already missed the target. No. 23 for the Browns clearly initiated contact with his helmet, hitting the side of Johnson’s helmet and injuring the rookie WR. Randall was penalized 15 yards for the personal foul and then ejected from the game after a review while the trainers tended to Johnson.

The wideout left the sideline on a cart and was ruled out for the rest of the night.

This is exactly the type of play the NFL is trying to eliminate from the game.