Lamar Jackson’s options downfield could be limited in Saturday’s AFC North grudge match against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out wide receiver Diontae Johnson, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. In addition, Schefter also reported that wide receiver Rashod Bateman is listed as questionable.
“Ravens ruled out WR Diontae Johnson and list Rashod Bateman as questionable,” Schefter said on X.
Johnson is inactive for personal reasons while Bateman nurses his way through a foot injury.
For Johnson, his official inactive status comes after the team and he had “mutually agreed” to excuse him from team activities this week following a team suspension.
The Ravens had suspended Johnson on Dec. 4 for “conduct detrimental to the team” after he refused to enter the game in the Week 13 24-19 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the team held a bye in Week 14, Johnson sat out for Sunday’s 35-14 crushing of the New York Jets. He was initially expected to resume activities with the team in preparation for the Steelers in Week 16.
Baltimore only just acquired Johnson on Oct. 29 in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. In the four games he’s suited up for since the exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick (the Panthers added a sixth-round pick with Johnson), he’s caught one reception for six yards.
Head coach John Harbaugh expressed that the team will continue to focus on preparing for Johnson’s former team, the Steelers.
“What I foresee, really to be honest with you and all I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh. So he won’t be here this week and next week will take care of itself,” said Harbaugh on Monday.
Lamar Jackson’s options downfield could be limited in Saturday’s AFC North grudge match against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out wide receiver Diontae Johnson, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. In addition, Schefter also reported that wide receiver Rashod Bateman is listed as questionable.
“Ravens ruled out WR Diontae Johnson and list Rashod Bateman as questionable,” Schefter said on X.
Johnson is inactive for personal reasons while Bateman nurses his way through a foot injury.
For Johnson, his official inactive status comes after the team and he had “mutually agreed” to excuse him from team activities this week following a team suspension.
The Ravens had suspended Johnson on Dec. 4 for “conduct detrimental to the team” after he refused to enter the game in the Week 13 24-19 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the team held a bye in Week 14, Johnson sat out for Sunday’s 35-14 crushing of the New York Jets. He was initially expected to resume activities with the team in preparation for the Steelers in Week 16.
Baltimore only just acquired Johnson on Oct. 29 in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. In the four games he’s suited up for since the exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick (the Panthers added a sixth-round pick with Johnson), he’s caught one reception for six yards.
Head coach John Harbaugh expressed that the team will continue to focus on preparing for Johnson’s former team, the Steelers.
“What I foresee, really to be honest with you and all I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh. So he won’t be here this week and next week will take care of itself,” said Harbaugh on Monday.
It’s been a tumultuous start for Johnson’s Ravens tenure, which begs the question as to why the team wouldn’t just cut him as a sunk cost.
“There are a lot of moving parts. There are reasons for doing things that are front office-type reasons. Do I want to sit here and get into all the different calculations that Eric [DeCosta] makes? I really don’t,” Harbaugh added
In Bateman’s case, he did not practice on Thursday after being a surprise limited participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Bateman is in the midst of churning a career-high output of 654 total yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games so far. In his fourth season with the Ravens, Bateman has emerged as more of a steady option for Jackson, ranking second on the roster in yards per game (46.7) behind Zay Flowers.
