Diontae Johnson Apparently Benched By Ravens, Harbaugh Mum on Details

In a perplexing turn of events, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was dressed and ready to play for the Baltimore Ravens in their 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, yet he never saw a single snap. Despite being available and even watching from the sidelines as the Ravens’ offense struggled, Johnson remained on the bench—even after starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman left the game in the fourth quarter due to injury. The decision to leave Johnson out of the game, especially with an injury to Bateman creating an opening at wide receiver, has raised a flurry of questions surrounding the wideout’s status with the Ravens.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, when asked about Johnson’s surprising omission after the game, was cryptic, offering little insight.

“I’m not really ready to comment on that right now,” Harbaugh said. “I will be, just don’t have enough information right now to talk about that.” The vague response left many speculating about what could be behind Johnson’s absence, with theories ranging from tactical reasons to potential internal issues.

This curious situation comes just weeks after the Ravens acquired Johnson in a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers, following a deal orchestrated by the Steelers in the offseason that sent the talented wideout to Carolina in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and draft capital. At the time, the trade was seen as a win-win for both sides. The Ravens added a proven receiver to help bolster their offense alongside Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers, while the Panthers accumulated picks as part of their rebuilding process.

However, Johnson’s career trajectory has not been as smooth as many had expected. Despite being a productive receiver in Pittsburgh—averaging over 1,100 yards in both 2021 and 2022—his time with the Steelers had begun to sour, with internal whispers suggesting that Johnson’s attitude and work ethic were starting to cause friction in the locker room. There were even rumblings that he wasn’t setting a positive example for fellow receiver George Pickens, the team’s emerging star. As a result, the Steelers made the decision to trade him away, and Johnson landed with the Panthers before ultimately being traded to the Ravens.

Pittsburgh Steelers WR Diontae Johnson against the New England Patriots, Dec. 7, 2023 – Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Despite the fresh start in Baltimore, Johnson has been anything but impactful. In his five games with the Ravens, he has just one catch for six yards—a far cry from the player who had multiple 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers. His lack of involvement in the offense reached a new low on Sunday, when even Bateman’s injury failed to open a door for Johnson to step in and contribute. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who had expressed optimism about Johnson’s potential when the trade occurred, voiced his support for the receiver after the game. “We want him out there,” Jackson said. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.” Jackson’s comments suggest the Ravens still see value in Johnson’s talent, but his lack of playing time on Sunday casts doubt on how the team truly views his role going forward.

The situation also underscores a larger trend in Pittsburgh’s handling of star wide receivers. Johnson’s fall from prominence echoes the experiences of Antonio Brown and Chase Claypool, two other Steelers wideouts who struggled after leaving Pittsburgh. Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders in 2019, where his tenure lasted just 182 days and ended without him ever playing a game. Claypool was shipped to the Chicago Bears in 2022, only to post lackluster numbers—18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown in 10 games—before finding himself out of a job this season. Now, Johnson appears to be following a similar path, with his trade to the Ravens seemingly failing to rejuvenate his career.

Given the minimal production and his ongoing struggles to get on the field, the question arises: Could the Ravens release Johnson soon? With the team still vying for a playoff spot, they can’t afford to carry a player who is not contributing. If Johnson’s lack of involvement is due to issues off the field or a poor fit within the team’s system, it’s entirely possible the Ravens will cut ties with him before long.

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