Johnson’s days in the NFL could be numbered.
It was only three short weeks ago that the Baltimore Ravens made a trade with the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, but the relationship has gone south and things have largely gone downhill since. The latest drama and development in what has been an unproductive and silent tenure for Johnson is a suspension levied by the Ravens for one game, the organization announced in a press release.
In the statement, executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta said the suspension is for conduct detrimental to the team and stems from Johnson refusing to enter the Ravens game against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The statement also noted it was a “difficult decision.”
Baltimore is on their much-needed bye in Week 14, so Johnson’s suspension will go into effect in Week 15 when the team travels to New York to take on the Giants, who are also in flux.
This suspension comes mere weeks after Baltimore acquired Johnson from the Panthers along with a sixth-round pick, in exchange for a fifth-rounder. Spending just over a month with the Ravens, Johnson has played sparingly, only 39 snaps over four appearances. In all, he has caught a single pass for 6 yards on his five targets.
After Sunday’s game, quarterback Lamar Jackson said he spoke to Johnson about staying locked in after not playing.
Embed from Getty Images“We want him out there,” Jackson said. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.”
Johnson logged zero snaps in the team’s loss to Philadelphia on Sunday, despite the fact that No. 2 wideout Rashod Bateman was injured during the game and did not return. From this statement it is clear that it was Johnson’s decision.
Following the game, coach John Harbaugh was evasive when asked why Johnson did not play. Given another chance to explain on Monday, Harbaugh was somehow even more vague.
“At this time, I’m going to have to wait,” Harbaugh said, via ESPN. “There are moving parts we’re going to have to figure out and explore.”
Johnson had been a productive, yet mercurial wide receiver during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, hauling in 391 passes for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in his five seasons. He was dealt to Carolina last offseason as part of a deal for cornerback Donte Jackson. He was one of the few bright spots and operated as one of the top pass catchers for Bryce Young and Andy Dalton early in the year, catching 30 of 58 targets for 357 yards and three touchdowns
His acquisition led to speculation that he would take on the No. 2 receiver role ahead of Bateman in Baltimore, but that has not materialized at all thus far.
