The Diontae Johnson era is over 7 1/2 weeks after the Ravens acquired the former Pro Bowl wide receiver from Carolina.
After just one catch over four contests, a Week 15 suspension, and an excused absence from team activities this week, Johnson was waived by Baltimore, the third team to part with the 28-year-old this year. General manager Eric DeCosta sent a 2025 fifth-round draft selection to the Panthers — who paid down most of the pending free agent’s remaining salary — in exchange for Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick the week before the trade deadline, but the former Pittsburgh Steeler quickly became unhappy with his role as he caught only one pass for six yards on five targets and a total of 39 offensive snaps.
The saga came to a head during the Dec. 1 loss to Philadelphia when starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, the kind of scenario for which the former 1,000-yard receiver had been acquired. However, Johnson refused to enter the game, conduct that resulted in the team suspending him for the Week 15 contest with the New York Giants. When the Ravens then announced Monday that the sides had “mutually agreed” to excuse Johnson from all team activities leading up to Saturday’s AFC North clash with the Steelers, it became apparent that the partnership was reaching the point of no return.
“I know you guys want to hear the story. There’s a lot of moving parts,” head coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “There are reasons for doing things that are front office-type reasons. Do I want to sit here and get into all of the different calculations that Eric makes? I really don’t. I want to think about Pittsburgh and our team getting ready for Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh.”
Johnson will now be subject to waivers with the other 31 teams eligible to put in a claim by Monday afternoon. His talent is a given, but any potential suitor must weigh the reality that the Steelers traded him without an abundance of receiver talent on their roster, the Panthers paid down much of his salary and got next to nothing for dealing him to Baltimore, and the Ravens have now deemed him no longer worth the trouble.
Ironically, Johnson’s departure comes at a time when the Ravens are hurting at wide receiver. On Friday, Baltimore downgraded Nelson Agholor (concussion) from questionable to out for the Steelers game. Agholor missed the entire practice week, but he was able to work out on a side field during the early portion of Thursday’s practice, leaving some hope that he’d have time to be cleared from the concussion protocol.
Bateman remains questionable to play because of a foot injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice. On Thursday, Bateman left the locker room wearing a walking boot on his left foot, leaving his status for Saturday in great question.
Needing game-day depth at wide receiver, the Ravens elevated veteran Anthony Miller from the practice squad for Saturday’s game. For the second straight week, they also elevated defensive back Desmond King, who is now serving as the primary punt returner.
The Steelers did not make any roster moves for Saturday’s game, but they downgraded ex-Ravens safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) from doubtful to out. He joins wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) and backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal) as Pittsburgh players sidelined for Week 16.
