As Steelers fans, we can only sit back and smirk as the Diontae Johnson drama continues to unfold. Just before the NFL trade deadline, the Baltimore Ravens executed a trade with the Carolina Panthers for the troubled wide receiver in hopes of further aiding an already explosive offense. This has been anything but the case.
On December 1, the Ravens called on Diontae to enter the game against the Eagles late in the contest, but Johnson refused. This quickly led to Baltimore issuing the wide receiver a one-game suspension for his insubordination.
We would have assumed this was the wake-up call Johnson needed to put the team first. It wasn't.
On December 16, one day after the Ravens' blowout win over the Giants in Week 15, Johnson is apparently at it again. In a statement from the team, the Ravens have mutually agreed to excuse Diontae from activities this week.
Statement from the Baltimore Ravens. pic.twitter.com/sg9seXfJMc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 16, 2024
This interesting statement raises more questions than answers, but we can assume this isn't good news for Johnson moving forward. Things have not gone swimmingly for the veteran wide receiver in 2024, and fans have the right to question if his NFL career could be coming to an end soon.
Diontae's antics show why Steelers traded him during the offseason
Before being suspended by the team and now excused from participating in team activities, Johnson's production with the Ravens couldn't have been worse. In four games with Baltimore, the veteran caught just one pass on five targets for a mere six yards. His lack of involvement no doubt led to his rebellious behavior.
If Omar Khan and the front office didn't already justify their decision to trade Diontae early in the 2024 offseason, they did now. While the Steelers are desperate for help at wide receiver, Johnson's me-first attitude and selfish play would have only made the situation worse.
In the trade with the Panthers, the Steelers received cornerback Donte Jackson in exchange for Johnson. Though Jackson has been up and down in 2024, this proved to be a good decision.
As Steelers fans, we can't help but laugh when we think about Diontae Johnson burning the Ravens to the ground from the inside. It's baffling why Baltimore doesn't just cut him at this point. Perhaps it's to teach Johnson a lesson that he doesn't make the rules.
Regardless, we can take comfort in knowing that the ex-Steelers wide receiver will be no threat against Pittsburgh this week when Mike Tomlin's team travels to Baltimore.