Less than a month after his original release by the team, the Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson was claimed off waivers on Wednesday.
The Houston Texans placed the mercurial 28-year-old former Pro Bowl receiver on waivers after he appeared in two games for the franchise, including the team’s AFC Wild Card playoff win against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Johnson was cut by the Ravens on Dec. 23 following his team-issued suspension for allegedly refusing to appear in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1. He caught just one pass for six yards in four games with Baltimore. The receiver will not be able to feature for Baltimore in the postseason, having already played for Houston. He will be eligible to play in 2025.
Regardless, Johnson will still test unrestricted free agency following the Super Bowl. While Baltimore could re-sign him, the team will now be in a position to receive a conditional draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
Johnson started the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers following five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He underwhelmed in Carolina, catching 30 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.
Reportedly beleaguered in Carolina, the Panthers sent Johnson to Baltimore for pennies on the dollar: the team could only fetch a fifth-round pick for the receiver and a sixth-round choice.
His stint in Baltimore didn’t work out, as he received a suspension from the organization. “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,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said in a statement. “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.”
“We want him out there,” Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson said at the time. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.”
Johnson was seen pouting following his team’s win against the Chargers, reportedly due to a lack of involvement in the offense. Click2Houston reported that team captains Azeez Al-Shaair and Joe Mixon tried calming him down. “Unfortunately, with Diontae, it didn’t work out. We’re on to the Chiefs, “Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday.
“I feel like it’s part of the game,” Texans wide receiver Robert Woods said of Johnson’s release. “Everybody is competitive. Everybody wants to be at their best, be at their peak and be used, but it’s tough. It’s the NFL. It’s a tough profession and leave it at that.”
