Not long ago, Diontae Johnson was a valued member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and widely regarded as one of the NFL‘s top route runners.
Fast forward to 2024, and Johnson spent time with four different organizations over the span of nine months. His fall from grace was by no means pretty, but the 28-year-old WR still has a shot to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy with the Houston Texans.
Johnson and the Texans are facing off against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, but it was quite a chaotic journey for him to end up in Texas. Let’s take a look at how he went from Pittsburgh to Carolina to Baltimore to Houston.
What Happened to Diontae Johnson?
Johnson began the year in familiar territory. He finished out the 2023 NFL season in Pittsburgh, recording 51 receptions for 717 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
In March 2024, he changed teams for the first time in his career, as the Steelers dealt the one-time Pro Bowler and a seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round selection.
He appeared in seven games with the Panthers, tallying 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
This stint in Carolina ended up being relatively long compared to his next stop. The drama began to pick up once Johnson was packaged with a sixth-round pick and traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a fifth-round pick.
The expectation was that Johnson would provide quarterback Lamar Jackson with a reliable veteran weapon to pair alongside Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews.
This couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Johnson had a disappointing four-game stint in Baltimore, recording just a single reception for six yards. Johnson’s time with the Ravens came to an end when he was suspended for one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team” after refusing to enter a game since he was upset about his role. Shortly after, Baltimore released him.
The Texans decided to give Johnson a chance — his fourth team in nine months.
He suited up for Houston once in the regular season, catching two passes for 12 yards. The Texans’ front office’s decision to sign Johnson makes sense, as Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs are out for the postseason with injuries.
Can Johnson Replace Tank Dell or Stefon Diggs?
In Saturday’s game against coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, Johnson could have a bigger role than he did during the regular season since he has had time to get acclimated.
With both Dell and Diggs out for the season, Johnson is somewhat of an X-factor for Houston since the Texans need a wide receiver to step up and he has shown he’s still capable of playing at a high level.
While he struggled with the Ravens, Johnson averaged his second-highest yards per catch during his seven-game stint with Carolina this year.
He was very underutilized with the Ravens but has surprisingly fresh legs for this time of year, so perhaps he can step up during the postseason.
Given his style of play, he’s more likely to step into the Diggs’ role rather than trying to duplicate Dell’s field-stretching ability.
The Texans’ depth chart currently lists Nico Collins, John Metchie III, and Robert Woods as their top three receivers, but Johnson should still see plenty of snaps, affording him a real opportunity to prove he still has plenty left in the tank.