The Houston Texans cut former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday, it marked the fourth team that Johnson has been traded or cut by in the last year. It appears that Johnson's attitude got hims released, as multiple reports out of Houston claim that he had an outburst after the team's Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
" Diontae Johnson made a scene in the locker room after the game where cigars were literally being smoked and the team was bonding, happy to get a win. It's very easy to see why Tomlin was over him, not Pickens and Baltimore , one of the best organizations in NFL, bailed," Texans reporter Landry Locker wrote on X .
Johnson had three receptions for 24 yards in the win, so he apparently felt he was utilized enough. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reported that teammates had to console Johnson in the locker room.
"After a playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium, Johnson was visibly upset and teammates, including team captains Azeez Al-Shaair and Joe Mixon , were trying to calm him down. His displeasure with his role is a recurring theme for him this season and has now led to another lost opportunity," Wilson wrote .
As mentioned, Johnson has been a member of four teams in the last calendar year — the Steelers, Carolina Panthers , Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. That is simply unheard of, and certainly not a good sign for Johnson's future.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson on the sidelines during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 17, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers netted veteran cornerback Donte Jackson in that swap. At the time, Johnson was the Steelers' most experience pass-catcher and its longest-tenured offensive player.
With the Panthers, Diontae Johnson had 30 grabs for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games, but Carolina shipped him to Baltimore in late-October. His time with the Ravens was brief and unproductive — he had just one catch for six yards running routes for Lamar Jackson . He was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team in December and was cut free later in the month, landing with the Texans.
Johnson arrived in Pittsburgh as a third-round pick in 2019, that choice coming by way of Antonio Brown 's trade to the then-Oakland Raiders . Johnson was a Pro Bowler in 2021, a campaign in which he had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns — all single-season career bests.
In total, Johnson had 391 grabs for 4,363 yards in Pittsburgh, also scoring 25 touchdowns. However, despite being largely productive and reliable as a Steeler, the front office saw it fit to off-load him, especially with the complications that arise with talented young wideout George Pickens alone.
RELATED: Texans Cut Former Steelers Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson
Brenden Howe contributed reporting for this story.
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