Tag: Diontae Johnson

WATCH: New Texans WR Diontae Johnson takes field for first time

Diontae Johnson will hopefully be the solution for the Houston Texans’ passing game.

Diontae Johnson hopes to solve the Houston Texans‘ woes in the pass-catching department en route to a playoff run.

His impact should be felt starting on Monday.

Johnson, who was claimed off waivers last week from the Baltimore Ravens, took the field for the first time in Houston as the team prepares for its season finale showdown with the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.

Johnson, who will wear the No. 82, is expected to make his Texans’ debut before the team’s playoff run in two weeks.

Here’s a look at him taking the field outside of NRG Stadium for the first time.

The Ravens acquired Johnson in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, but he played only 39 snaps in four games, catching one pass for 6 yards. After refusing to play in a Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was suspended for a game and later excused from team activities last week.

The Texans, who will be without both Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell for their playoff, are hopeful of landing the version of Johnson that thrived in Charlotte. In seven games with the Panthers, the former third-round pick led the Panthers with 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT. The game will be locally televised on CBS.

Is Diontae Johnson playing vs. Ravens today? Latest updates for Texans WR

Will Diontae Johnson see the field on Wednesday afternoon when the Houston Texans take on the Baltimore Ravens?

Diontae Johnson might be the next top weapon for the Houston Texans amid a playoff run.

He could be why Houston wins its second postseason game under the DeMeco Ryans-C.J. Stroud regime in front of fans at NRG Stadium in early January.

But will the recently acquired Baltimore Ravens pass-catcher take the field on Christmas Day against his former team at NRG Stadium?

Here’s the latest surrounding Johnson’s status for Wednesday’s showdown

Diontae Johnson update

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Johnson won’t debut in a Texans’ uniform until Week 18’s road trip against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Jan.5.

While Houston needs a secondary receiver, it’s too early to expect much from Johnson, who was claimed off waivers Monday afternoon.

That doesn’t mean that Johnson won’t get a chance to seek revenge on his former roster. If the season were to end today, the Texans would clinch the No. 4 seed and host the Ravens once more in the wild-card round next month.

It was all a long for Johnson to play. When asked about adding a receiver following a season-ending injury to Tank Dell, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said it wasn’t off the table, though it would be challenging to get them involved in a gameplan by the end of Tuesday’s walkthrough.

“It’s hard to add anyone when we play in two days,” Ryans said Monday. “It’s unrealistic that someone is coming in and playing for us on Wednesday. We’re rolling with what we have and what we have is good. I really like all of our guys.”

Diontae Johnson’s future role

The Ravens waived Johnson on Friday, ending his drama-filled seven weeks with the team. Johnson, 28, was suspended for one game after he refused to play in a Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He then was excused from team activities last week.

Still, the Texans are hopeful they’ll get the version of Johnson Baltimore traded for back in October amid a playoff run over the next month. Talent-wise, he’s a reliable target capable of turning into a quality No. 1 threat in any passing attack.

Ryans said that while the loss of Dell stings, he likes the talent returning behind Nico Collins at receiver on a short week. John Metchie III is expected back after missing Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury.

“[I] like how our guys work and they understand what we’re asking of them and we’re going to go out and compete,” Ryans said.

Diontae Johnson stats

Before being traded to Baltimore, Johnson served as the Carolina Panthers’ top target, hauling in 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.

He also collected over 100 receptions and 1,110 yards during the 2021 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 2019 third-round pick out of Toldeo, Johnson has totaled 422 receptions for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns in six seasons with the Steelers, Panthers and Ravens.

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

Is Diontae Johnson playing vs. Ravens today? Latest updates for Texans WR

Diontae Johnson won’t face the Ravens in Week 17 as the Texans are holding the veteran WR out until Week 18 against the Titans

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.

Ian Rapoport reports that Johnson will wait a week to make his debut, choosing the regular season finale against Tennessee.

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.

Will new Texans WR Diontae Johnson play vs. former team on Christmas?

Diontae Johnson might be headed to Houston, but will the Texans have him suit up on Wednesday to take on his former team?

Diontae Johnson might be a member of the Houston Texans, but his impact on Wednesday’s Christmas matchup against his former team could be scarce.

One could argue that it’ll be invisible.

With the Texans being on a short week and Johnson being claimed off waivers Monday afternoon, it seems unlikely that the former Baltimore Ravens pass-catcher will see action against Lamar Jackson and the AFC North franchise at NRG Stadium.

When asked about adding a receiver following a season-ending injury to Tank Dell, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said it wasn’t off the table, though it would be challenging to get them involved in a gameplan by the end of Tuesday’s walkthrough.

“It’s hard to add anyone when we play in two days,” Ryans said Monday. “It’s unrealistic that someone is coming in and playing for us on Wednesday. We’re rolling with what we have and what we have is good. I really like all of our guys.”

Johnson, 29, was waived by the Ravens last week after he refused to play in their Week 13 game against the Eagles. He spent seven weeks with the team but only played in four games.

Still, the Texans are hopeful they’ll get the version of Johnson Baltimore traded for back in October amid a playoff run over the next month. Talent-wise, he’s a reliable target capable of turning into a quality No. 1 threat in any passing attack.

Before being traded to Baltimore, Johnson served as the Carolina Panthers’ top target, hauling in 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. He also collected over 100 receptions and 1,110 yards during the 2021 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ryans said that while the loss of Dell stings, he likes the talent returning behind Nico Collins at receiver on a short week. John Metchie III is expected back after missing Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury.

“[I] like how our guys work and they understand what we’re asking of them and we’re going to go out and compete,” Ryans said.

A 2019 third-round pick out of Toldeo, Johnson has totaled 422 receptions for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns in six seasons with the Steelers, Panthers and Ravens.

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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.