The Baltimore Ravens initially suspended Diontae Johnson for one game on Dec. 4 for “conduct detrimental to the team” after he refused to enter the game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens had a bye the following week, so the receiver sat out Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. He was waived on Friday afternoon.
Diontae Johnson Waived By Baltimore Ravens
Johnson had been excused from team activities this week as it appears as though his one-game suspension was evolving into something larger. It loomed very large for Johnson as he was waived on Friday afternoon by the Ravens.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh declined to talk about Johnson when he met with the press earlier this week. He said he just wanted to talk about the players who were going to practice and play in the game.
Diontae Johnson is no longer suspended. He has not been cut, either.
But, the team announced that the two sides have "mutually agreed" to excuse him from team activities this week.
John Harbaugh was asked if he foresees Johnson returning next week:
"What I foresee, really to… pic.twitter.com/K2lbiGl0Ho
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“What I foresee, really, to be honest with you, and all I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh and getting our team ready for Pittsburgh,” Harbaugh replied when asked if he could see Johnson returning next week.
“So, he won’t be here this week, and next week will take care of itself.”
Saturday’s game in Week 16 is very important to the Ravens, who are looking to tie the Steelers for first place in the division. If the Steelers win, they will clinch the division.
Johnson was traded to the Ravens by the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29 but has yielded only one catch for six yards. Frustrations began to bubble after he refused to enter the game vs. Philadelphia, which got him suspended in the first place.
When he was suspended, general manager Eric DeCosta released the following statement.
“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.”
One of the questions surrounding Johnson is why he had not been released. Harbaugh would not respond to the question.
“I know you guys want to hear the story,” Harbaugh replied when asked why the Ravens are excusing Johnson instead of merely releasing him. “There’s a lot of moving parts. There are reasons for doing things that are front office-type reasons.”
Ultimately, Johnson was released the day before the Ravens’ intradivisional battle with the Steelers.
