Diontae Johnson Suffers Unexpected Injury

PITTSBURGH — Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson missed Wednesday’s practice unexpectedly with a knee injury. Johnson was not seen at practice with his teammates during the individual period open to media, and that new development could be concerning for a team that needs all of the receivers it needs to spark an ailing passing offense.

Johnson was not listed on the injury report and was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice. The wide receiver has been dealing with a thumb injury, playing with a brace on one hand for several weeks. He has also missed time recently for an illness. But this knee injury is new.

Johnson spoke to the media after practice on Tuesday and did not appear to be significantly bothered by any injury. The Steelers will have just one more practice on Thursday before their Saturday game against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15. He may need to log at least a limited practice to play.

Johnson has been one of the players on the team that has consistently called out the effort of the club in back-to-back losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots in Week 14 and 15.

“I felt like that the whole week. Once we got out there, I felt like something was different,” Johnson said. “We wasn’t at our best. I feel like we just took them lightly. We can’t come in this Thursday with the same mindset. We’re gonna be fine. We’re gonna move past it.”

When Johnson missed several games earlier this season with a hamstring injury, Austin stepped into the starting lineup in his place. Though he has played only nine games, Johnson is the team’s second-leading receiver with 37 catches for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

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