Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Diontae Johnson is making headlines for all the wrong reasons in the past two weeks of the season. Following the team's loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 11, Johnson reportedly got into a scuffle with star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick that had to be broken up by other teammates. In another tightly contested AFC North battle in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson came under fire for his perceived lack of effort when Jaylen Warren lost a fumble. Johnson failed to react on the play, even though he was the closest Steeler to the loose ball. Former Pittsburgh safety Ryan Clark called out Johnson for both the play and the fifth-year receiver's defense of his actions.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Diontae Johnson (#18) has a lot of work to do to regain the fan base's trust after multiple incidents that have painted him in a poor light.
The play before, Johnson was seen lazily walking up to Bengals cornerback DJ Turner Jr. and putting his arms on him haphazardly, the same defensive back was ripping a touchdown out of his hands. While it might have counted if Head Coach Mike Tomlin bothered to throw the challenge flag, that certainly doesn't excuse whatever it was that Johnson was doing when the ball popped out of Warren's hands and onto the turf at Paycor Stadium on Pittsburgh's second offensive possession of the game.
Clark said on ESPN's First Take with Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith on Monday morning that while he takes Johnson at his word that he genuinely didn't see the ball, he is starting to feel like he's had enough of the receiver's antics.
"I think the problem is it's always a bad look from him," Clark said. "I take it that Diontae Johnson didn't see the ball on the ground because I do believe any player that wants to be part of a team that wins tries to jump on that football. What Diontae Johnson showed me was that he was pouting y’all. He was pouting because he thought he had a touchdown. Then, when he didn’t, he decided blocking this guy or running him off was not what I should do."
Clark continued that whether Johnson saw the football land on the ground or not, him not doing his job could have changed the outcome of the play. It was Turner who scooped up the ball from the turf and ran it back 28 yards before Connor Heyward brought him down.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin discusses with Diontae Johnson (18).
Had Johnson been doing his job and actually blocking instead of whatever it was he did, maybe a Steelers player could pick up the loose ball first. Maybe he has an opportunity to make the tackle himself. Instead, because he was upset he didn't score, Pittsburgh had a promising drive for the offense end in failure.
Steelers' Johnson Could Be Trending Towards An Exit From Pittsburgh
Johnson is under contract for one more season after 2023 comes to a close, so his short-term future with the Steelers in theory should be safe. Despite missing four games with a hamstring ailment, Johnson is still the second-most targeted receiver for the Steelers and has been a favorite target for Kenny Pickett. With that being said, Pittsburgh hasn't been shy to move forward with problematic, talented receivers in the past.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson thought he had a touchdown in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith invoked names of Steelers receivers who have had varying degrees of success in Pittsburgh, like Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes, Antonio Brown, and Chase Claypool, before the team decided to move on and find someone new.
Clark said he's not impressed with Johnson. The fight with Fitzpatrick last week and now this week another problem popping up for Johnson is not leaving a very good taste in his mouth.
"I’m going to tell you straight up, Minkah is about business, is about ball, and is about winning, so if he’s getting into it or having a conversation with a player postgame, I’m normally going to side with the guy I know cares about teams," Clark said. "To me, this is an issue."
There's still time for Johnson to change the perceptions of him from the outside. He's got the rest of this season and then 2024 to prove that he still can be a Pro Bowl-type receiver and have a good attitude. Otherwise, he could be joining the list of talented Steelers receivers who have to try and see what life is like in a new city.
Do you agree with Clark about Johnson? Do you think he'll turn it around? Comment below!
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