Steelers' Mike Tomlin Won't Make Excuses For Diontae Johnson's Mediocre Performance In 2022

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin spoke to the media as is his tradition, following the Annual League Meetings in Phoenix, Arizona. This has been the first time in a while Tomlin had spoken with the press and there were plenty of topics to discuss. One of the hot items in the discussion was the play of Steelers wide receiver, Diontae Johnson in 2022. 

Johnson's performance, statistically speaking at least, seemed to have declined last season. The 2021 season was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's last and Johnson's third season in Pittsburgh. It also happened to be Johnson's best season, he even earned himself a two-year contract extension worth $36.7 million, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in Steelers history. 

Things looked much different during 2022 for Johnson. He had two new quarterbacks as the team began with Mitch Trubisky who was benched Week 4 in favor of then-rookie Kenny Pickett. Johnson played in one more game (17) than he did in 2021 (16) and still caught fewer passes. During 2021, he was targeted 169 times and had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. This past season he was targeted 147 times and had only 86 receptions for 882 yards and zero touchdowns. 

Johnson is a passionate and competitive player, but the only stat he found himself leading in 2022 was dubious at best. He was the receiver who caught the most passes (86) without scoring a touchdown in the history of the NFL. 

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Continues To Say The Team Will Make No Excuses

Tomlin was asked how he evaluates Johnson's performance in 2022 and does he think that not scoring a touchdown messes with his mentality at all. Tomlin, always acerbic was not taking the bait. 

"I'd imagine fielding questions about it repeatedly get tiresome. He's a competitor, he wants to be a significant part of the reason why we're successful. But that's in his rear view. He and I communicated yesterday, his workouts are going great, his leadership among those in this position group is going great. We're excited about the prospects of 2023 and being better."

Building off the prior question, Tomlin was then asked if having to learn to play with two new quarterbacks was the reason why Johnson did not perform as well. 

"You know we don't make excuses."

Tomlin's laconic answer must not of satisfied because he was asked again about an explanation for Johnson's zero touchdowns, given he had been so productive prior.to 2022. 

"It's probably a reflection of us and where we were. But I've been pretty transparent about that, we were very much a unit and a squad in development a year ago. We don't apologize for that. We did what we had to do to make ourselves competitive and particularly down the stretch to put ourselves in a position to win. It provides a platform for us to grow from and those are our intentions."

That was enough of the talk about what could have been last season and Tomlin let the media know it was time to move on. 

"You know last year's last year as far as we're concerned in terms of some of these discussions. I'm kind of done with last year guys, it's March, you know what I mean, late March."  

What do you think about Tomlin's comments on Johnson? Do you agree that it is just a result of where the team was as a whole vs. some kind of struggle for Johnson alone? Let us know what you think, click to comment below. 

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