Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson returns to Pittsburgh on Sunday for the first time since the Steelers traded him to the Carolina Panthers this past March. Johnson was with Carolina for only seven games before being traded to the Ravens on Oct. 29.
It sets up an intriguing storyline for Sunday’s AFC North showdown. Johnson praised the Steelers organization when speaking with the Baltimore media this week. At the same time, however, he definitely didn’t leave the Steelers on the best terms. There were several outbursts in his last two seasons with the team, which led to his departure.
“Man, I had a great career there. I loved it,” Diontae 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.”
Johnson hasn’t made an impact in Baltimore yet, recording just one catch for six yards on two targets in two games.
“They’re working me in there slowly, but, you know, I just go out there, whenever they call my number, going to do my thing,” he said. “So I can’t go in there just expecting a lot. I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself. However the game goes, I’m all for it.”
Johnson recorded 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns with the Steelers. He is also known to be one of the best route runners in the NFL. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t concerned about Johnson’s presence in the Ravens’ offense, however. While it’s true that Johnson is new to the Ravens, Tomlin’s response was viewed as a dig at his former wide receiver.
“To be honest with you, I hadn’t thought a lot about it,” Tomlin said. “He’s not on a lot of their video. So at this stage of the week, I don’t know that I’ve weighed what he might mean to the matchup. They’ve got more significant pieces with larger roles that occupy my attention at this part of the week.”
Johnson has been looking forward to getting revenge on his former team since being dealt to the Ravens. I’m sure Tomlin’s comment that went viral has caught his attention, too.
“Once I found out where I was going, I was excited,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to that game, man.”
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Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.