The Baltimore Ravens made a decision on Friday.
The team decided to waive wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
Johnson’s tenure with the Ravens resulted in just one catch for six yards.
In March, Johnson was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Carolina Panthers. Then, the Panthers traded him to the Ravens at the end of October.
But his time in Baltimore was certainly not what anyone wanted.
At the beginning of December, Johnson was suspended for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team.
In a statement, the Ravens said that it is because Johnson refused to enter the game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was sidelined for their game against the New York Giants.
And now, he has been released.
Johnson will go on waivers and can be claimed by Monday at 4 p.m. ET. Teams in need of a veteran wide receiver could look to snag him, especially because he has a minimum salary.
However, he will become a free agent in 2025.
Back at the beginning of the month when the suspension was first announced, A to Z Sports’ Rob Gregson provided some more context.
“While the Ravens suspending Diontae Johnson might seem strong, those familiar with his time in Pittsburgh won’t be surprised. By the end of 2023, Johnson had made enemies with stars like Minkah Fitzpatrick, openly defied HC Mike Tomlin to the media, and quit on his team multiple times during games. The headaches he caused began to outweigh his production and the Panthers and Ravens have learned that a change of scenery doesn’t always change the person,” Gregson wrote.
And this is made a lot worse by a report from when the Ravens traded for the receiver.
“As for whether there’s any concern of Johnson’s history with the Pittsburgh Steelers and some reported instances of upheaval carrying over (including a “heated locker room argument with FS Minkah Fitzpatrick after the safety took issue with Johnson’s treatment of the coaches on the sideline;” and “seemingly walk(ing) away from the opportunity to recover” RB Jaylen Warren’s fumble in a game against the Bengals last season, per USA Today’s Steelers Wire), I’m told Johnson will have an opportunity to mold his own future in Baltimore. The feeling is that “people can grow up and mature and have their eyes opened” when in a new environment of hope and optimism. Still I’m told it’ll be “up to him” to make the most of this chance.”
