On Wednesday, the Baltimore Ravens announced that veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Let’s examine what the six-year NFL veteran did to earn the suspension.
Ravens Suspend Diontae Johnson for Conduct Detrimental to the Team
Many fans immediately wondered why the team suspended Johnson, who was acquired by Baltimore in a trade with the Carolina Panthers prior to the deadline.
Ravens executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta released a statement on Wednesday afternoon explaining the reason for the suspension.
“We have made the difficult decision to suspend Diontae Johnson for our upcoming game against the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team,” DeCosta said. “Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles. We will have no further comments on this matter going forward.”
The Ravens are currently on their bye week, so Johnson will miss the team’s Week 15 contest against the Giants.
On Oct. 29, 2024, the Ravens traded a fifth-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for Johnson and a sixth-round pick. Johnson hasn’t played much since landing in Baltimore. Since the trade, Johnson has appeared in four games, catching just one pass for six yards (on five targets).
After wide receiver Rashod Bateman suffered a knee injury during the Week 13 contest, fans and analysts were surprised when Johnson didn’t enter the game.
Following the Ravens’ loss on Sunday, head coach John Harbaugh had a cryptic response when asked why Johnson failed to register a snap.
“At this time, I’m going to have to wait,” Harbaugh said. “There are some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and see where we’re at. It’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody.”
#Ravens HC John Harbaugh on WR Diontae Johnson playing zero snaps on Sunday: "At this time, I'm going to have to wait. There are moving parts that we're going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 2, 2024
Now, it’s clear what Harbaugh was referencing. Quarterback Lamar Jackson also weighed in after the game, making it clear that the team wanted Johnson on the field.
“We want him out there,” Jackson said, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.”
Will the Ravens Cut Johnson?
When Johnson was initially acquired, the move was widely regarded as a steal for the Ravens given his production and how little Baltimore had to give up.
Now, this is a situation worth monitoring and it remains to be seen if the two sides can salvage this rocky marriage.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that “Johnson has been frustrated in Baltimore due to his lack of usage since arriving.” In addition to the suspension, the Ravens will have discussions over the next few days about “whether moving on would make sense.”
“The Ravens still believe Johnson could help them down the stretch, but they need everyone to be fully committed and team-focused,” Schultz added.
Johnson is in the final year of his contract and is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Prior to the trade deadline, Johnson played in seven games with the Panthers this season, catching 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns.
Throughout the course of Johnson’s career, he has appeared in 89 games, catching 422 passes for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns.