Kenny Pickett threw for a season-high 268 yards, though Johnson didn't benefit from the performance. He did manage Pittsburgh's second-longest play from scrimmage on a deep 39-yard catch early in the second quarter and also narrowly missed out on a touchdown earlier in the contest. Despite glimpses of positives, Johnson now has 50 or fewer yards in three consecutive games.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Diontae Johnson news
Receiving
| Year | Team | GP | REC | TGTS | YDS | AVG | TDS | LNG | YAC | YDS/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PIT | 7 | 30 | 55 | 385 | 13 | 1 | 39 | 135 | 55 |
| 2022 | PIT | 17 | 86 | 147 | 882 | 10 | 0 | 37 | 235 | 52 |
| 2021 | PIT | 16 | 107 | 169 | 1,161 | 11 | 8 | 50 | 527 | 73 |
| 2020 | PIT | 15 | 88 | 144 | 923 | 11 | 7 | 47 | 394 | 62 |
Rushing
Kenny Pickett threw for a season-high 268 yards, though Johnson didn't benefit from the performance. He did manage Pittsburgh's second-longest play from scrimmage on a deep 39-yard catch early in the second quarter and also narrowly missed out on a touchdown earlier in the contest. Despite glimpses of positives, Johnson now has 50 or fewer yards in three consecutive games.
Johnson led the Steelers in targets, narrowly out-pacing George Pickens. While no Pittsburgh pass catcher had a productive day, Johnson's stands out as particularly poor given that he had catches of only three and six yards, with his final seven yards coming on a lateral at the end of the game. Across his last two contests, he's combined to post three receptions for 33 yards and will head into another likely low-scoring divisional matchup against the Bengals in Week 12.
Johnson was listed as a non-participant Wednesday, but the wideout's return to a full session one day later sets the stage for him to remain a key target for quarterback Kenny Pickett in Sunday's game against the Browns. The wideout caught just one of his four targets for 17 yards in a 23-19 win over the Packers last weekend, but in the two contests prior, he combined for 15 catches on 23 targets for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson sat out Wednesday's session, but the wideout's return to the field a day later is a positive sign with regard to his chances of playing in Sunday's game against the Browns. The Steelers' second Week 11 injury report will be released later Thursday and will reveal the extent of Johnson's practice participation.
Johnson played 53 snaps on offense and caught one of his four targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Packers, but he may have emerged from the game with the thumb injury. With an absence from practice to begin Week 11 prep, Johnson's status is worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns. If the wideout ends up out this weekend, Calvin Austin and Allen Robinson could step into expanded roles alongside George Pickens.
Johnson was hardly a factor despite the Packers missing top cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder). With the Steelers finishing with 205 yards on the ground, however, Johnson wasn't the only pass catcher with a limited output. The wideout will now turn his attention toward next Sunday's divisional clash versus the Browns, who he did not face earlier this season due to injury.
Johnson limped off the field in the second half of Sunday's matchup but quickly returned to the game. He was also catching passes from Mitch Trubisky in the second half after Kenny Pickett left the game with a rib injury, but neither issue appeared to slow Johnson down, as he was targeted 14 times after being targeted six times in each of his first two performances of the year. The 2019 third-rounder wasn't particularly efficient Sunday, but it was encouraging to see his target share increase during his second week back from a hamstring injury.
Johnson missed practice Thursday, but the wideout noted Friday that his absence a day earlier was maintenance-related. In his return from injured reserve in the Steelers' Week 7 win over the Rams, Johnson logged 39 of 59 snaps on offense and finished with five catches for 79 yards on six targets. With his availability confirmed for Week 8, Johnson could see a slight uptick in snaps while remaining a key target for quarterback Kenny Pickett along with fellow wideouts George Pickens and Allen Robinson.
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Birthdate
7/5/1996 (27)
Status
Active
HT/WT
5'10", 183 lbs
Draft Info
2019: Rd 3; Pk 66 (PIT)
Birthplace
Ruskin, FL, USA
Position
WR
College
Toledo
Experience
5th season
Career History
Pittsburgh Steelers
2019 - Present
(5 seasons)
Previous Game
16
Final
10
4
REC
50
YDS
0
TDS
2023 Season Stats
REC
REC YDS
REC TDS
YAC
AVG YDS
30
385
1
135
13
