Texans Cut Former Steelers Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson
The Houston Texans have waived former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson, it was reported Tuesday. Johnson had just three receptions for 24 yards as a C.J. Stroud target.
Houston defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 32-12 in their AFC Wild Card matchup on Saturday, advancing to face off with Kansas City on the road in the next round.
Johnson has turned into a bit of a journeyman after being traded from Pittsburgh to Carolina last off-season. The Steelers netted veteran cornerback Donte Jackson in that swap. At the time, Johnson was the Steelers’ most experience pass-catcher and its longest-tenured offensive player.
With the Panthers, Diontae Johnson had 30 grabs for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games, but Carolina shipped him to Baltimore in late-October. His time with the Ravens was brief and unproductive — he had just one catch for six yards running routes for Lamar Jackson. He was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team in December and was cut free later in the month, landing with the Texans.
Johnson arrived in Pittsburgh as a third-round pick in 2019, that choice coming by way of Antonio Brown’s trade to the then-Oakland Raiders. Johnson was a Pro Bowler in 2021, a campaign in which he had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns — all single-season career bests.
In total, Johnson had 391 grabs for 4,363 yards in Pittsburgh, also scoring 25 touchdowns. However, despite being largely productive and reliable as a Steeler, the front office saw it fit to off-load him, especially with the complications that arise with talented young wideout George Pickens alone.
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