The Pittsburgh Steelers did not land wide receiver Diontae Johnson on waivers on Monday, as he was claimed by the Houston Texans, who had a higher waiver priority.
Johnson had been released on Friday by the Baltimore Ravens in a calculated move to prevent the possibility of him ending up with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the game between the teams on Saturday.
It turns out that wasn’t necessary as the Texans snapped him up after injuries to receivers Tank Dell and John Metchie III.
Johnson was traded from the Carolina Panthers to the Ravens in late October. He played in three games with the Ravens, including against Pittsburgh on Nov. 17, but refused to enter the Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles game went asked to.
That prompted a one-game suspension and then his eventual release, with the Ravens and Johnson agreeing that he would stay away from the team in the week leading up to the Steelers game before his Friday release.
The Steelers are extremely shorthanded at wide receiver, and have been since trading Johnson to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson back in March. Johnson’s absence has been felt more the last three weeks, as George Pickens has been out with a hamstring injury.
Pickens said on Monday he hopes to return for the Steelers’ Christmas Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about the possibility of re-acquiring Johnson on Sunday, and declined to specifically comment.
“I have nothing to add about somebody that’s not on our football team right now,” Tomlin said.
Johnson has said he has no hard feelings toward the Steelers after the trade.
“Man, I had a great career there. I loved it,” Johnson said “Great city, people great there. I know what they’re about.”
It’s unclear if the Steelers had any interest in a reunion.