Ravens WR Diontae Johnson Has No Hard Feelings Toward Steelers: ‘It’s All Love’
PITTSBURGH — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson had a lackluster performance in his homecoming against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, recording no receptions on two targets.
In three games since being traded by the Carolina Panthers to Baltimore, Johnson has caught only one pass for six yards.
“I’m still taking it one game at a time and waiting on my opportunities to make the most of them,” Johnson said after the game. “The very few opportunities I get, I try to capitalize on them whenever my number gets called.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it clear during his Tuesday press conference that Johnson was not a big concern for Sunday’s pivotal division game since he was new to Baltimore. Tomlin’s response was viewed as a dig at his former wide receiver, but the two exchanged pleasantries after the game and their was no bad blood.
“He told me to keep going, keep my head up, that he missed me and stuff,” Johnson said. “It’s all love when I see him or anyone over there. They did nothing but show me love when I was here.”
Despite a rocky end to his tenure in the Steel City, Johnson praised the Steelers organization when speaking with the Baltimore media in the week leading up to the game.
“Man, I had a great career there. I loved it,” Johnson said of the Steelers organization, via the Ravens’ official team website. “Great city, people great there. I know what they’re about. I can’t wait to get to Sunday to just be back in that stadium.
“Just being back in that stadium, where it all started, it’s going to be different. I actually have never been in the away locker room [in Pittsburgh], so that’s going to be different for me, but I’m ready to get back there, just to see the good people that I made relationships with, but other than that, it’s a big moment for me.”
Being in the visiting locker room was an adjustment for Johnson.
“It was very different. Coming into the away locker room and just going out that tunnel — the walk is long,” Johnson said. “I didn’t know the walk is that long.”
Johnson, who took a picture with George Pickens after the game, said Steelers fans gave him flak throughout the afternoon.
“You know they were talking crazy. ‘Yo, you on the wrong team… them colors look bad on you.’ This is where I’m at right now,” Johnson said with a smile and shrug.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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