The Steelers are slated to trade Johnson to the Panthers in exchange for Donte Jackson and a pick swap, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Johnson had a relatively disappointing 2023 season as the No. 1 option in Pittsburgh, as he finished with a career-low 51 receptions to go along with 717 yards through the air and five touchdowns. After spending his first five seasons with the Steelers, the 27-year-old will step into the No. 1 pass catching role in Carolina and look to build a rapport with Bryce Young.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Diontae Johnson news
Receiving
| Year | Team | GP | REC | TGTS | YDS | AVG | TDS | LNG | YAC | YDS/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | PIT | 13 | 51 | 87 | 717 | 14 | 5 | 71 | 261 | 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
The Steelers are slated to trade Johnson to the Panthers in exchange for Donte Jackson and a pick swap, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Johnson had a relatively disappointing 2023 season as the No. 1 option in Pittsburgh, as he finished with a career-low 51 receptions to go along with 717 yards through the air and five touchdowns. After spending his first five seasons with the Steelers, the 27-year-old will step into the No. 1 pass catching role in Carolina and look to build a rapport with Bryce Young.
After not practicing Thursday due to an illness, Johnson was a full participant a day later, which sets the stage for him to face the Cardinals in Week 13. In last Sunday's 16-10 win over the Bengals, Johnson caught four of his eight targets for 50 yards, marking his second consecutive outing with eight targets, a rate of volume that gives him a degree of fantasy utility this weekend while facing 2-10 Arizona.
Johnson reportedly arrived at the Steelers' facility and planned to take the field Thursday, but the team instead advised him to head home and get some rest and recovery rather than practicing at less than 100 percent health. Assuming Johnson is able to return to practice Friday, he should still be in good shape to play this Sunday against the Cardinals.
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 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
Carolina Panthers
Birthdate
7/5/1996 (27)
Status
Active
HT/WT
5'10", 183 lbs
Draft Info
2019: Rd 3; Pk (PIT)
Birthplace
Ruskin, FL, USA
Position
WR
College
Toledo
Experience
6th season
Career History
Pittsburgh Steelers
2019 - 2024
(5 seasons)
Previous Game
17
Final
31
4
REC
48
YDS
1
TDS
2023 Post Season Stats
REC
REC YDS
REC TDS
YAC
AVG YDS
4
48
1
18
12
2023 Regular Season Stats
REC
REC YDS
REC TDS
YAC
AVG YDS
51
717
5
261
14
|
Recent games
|
receiving
|
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Date
|
Opp
|
Result
|
REC
|
TGTS
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
TDS
|
LNG
|
YAC
|
|
Post Season
|
|||||||||
|
1/15
|
L 17-31
|
4
|
7
|
48
|
12
|
1
|
19
|
18
|
|
|
Regular Season
|
|||||||||
|
1/6
|
W 17-10
|
4
|
5
|
89
|
22.3
|
1
|
71
|
68
|
|
|
12/31
|
W 30-23
|
4
|
4
|
76
|
19
|
0
|
42
|
36
|
|
|
12/23
|
W 34-11
|
2
|
5
|
15
|
7.5
|
0
|
10
|
2
|
|
|
12/16
|
L 13-30
|
4
|
6
|
62
|
15.5
|
1
|
25
|
3
|
|
|
12/7
|
L 18-21
|
3
|
7
|
57
|
19
|
1
|
25
|
12
|
|
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