Diontae JohnsonNFL’s final NFL gig turned out to be short-lived. The Texans waived the veteran wideout today, according to a team announcement. In another roster move, tight end Cade Stover was placed on injured reserve.
This continues an incredibly eventful year for Johnson, who entered the 2024 offseason as one of the best route runners in the NFL and as a player who could have had considerable value in free agency – once ‘he has reached this point. A year later, a receiver who was tied to a two-year, $36.7 million contract torpedoed his value by wearing out his welcome everywhere he went. And he has now traveled to many NFL cities.
A fourth team has now abandoned it in the space of 10 months. Traded from the Steelers and Panthers, Johnson has now seen the Ravens and Texans waive him. Two teams – the Texans and Chargers – claimed Johnson once Baltimore left last month. Johnson, 28, now appears to be headed toward free agency. It’s hard to overstate the damage the sixth-year forward did to his NFL stock.
Following the Texans’ rout of the Chargers, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports that Johnson was visibly upset and needed to be calmed down by his teammates. Problems with its use, a theme of his tenure in Baltimore, resurfaced in Houston.
Johnson played 16 offensive snaps for the Texans, who used the former Steelers target commander on 22 plays against the Titans. Johnson caught a pass for 12 yards against the Bolts; he completed two passes for 12 yards against the Titans in Week 18. This usage served as a reminder of the role the Ravens gave to the depressed asset, and Johnson expressed considerable displeasure with this drop in participation.
Johnson is to be expected to generate internal discussions within teams that need receiver help for 2025, but anything beyond a one-year “prove it” deal seems unrealistic at this point. Aside from Johnson’s steady production with the Steelers, it will be difficult for teams to separate that from his tumultuous 2024 season. Johnson still looked like his Pittsburgh version of Carolina, averaging 51 yards per game (30 catches , 357 yards); this matches some of his low-octane seasons with the Steelers. But he either wanted to leave teams (Steelers, Panthers), or see them leave him (Ravens, Texans). This will be difficult to convince personnel departments in the future.
Johnson had wanted the Texans to trade for him at the deadline, but the Ravens did so instead. The former Steelers third-rounder complained about his playing time in Baltimore and ultimately refused to participate in a Ravens-Eagles game, leading to a suspension. After that one-game ban, the Ravens did not activate him for their Week 16 game against the Giants. A few days later, Baltimore waived sunk costs. With Johnson linked to the Chargers and Chiefs, the Texans stepped in with a claim. DeMeco Ryans had praised Johnson as recently as last week. Idem Joe Mixonvia Wilson. None of that ultimately mattered, and the former 1,100-yard rusher Ben Roethlisberger the target will soon be looking for a fifth home in the NFL.
The Texans didn’t see CJ Stroud took a step forward after his breakthrough rookie season, but in defending the 2023 No. 2 overall pick, he lost his No. 2 and No. 3 receivers – Steve Diggs And Dell Tank – for the season. Dell’s injury, a serious knee setback that required an ambulance ride from Arrowhead Stadium in Week 16, prompted Johnson’s claim. The Texans, however, used Robert Bois, John Metchie And Xavier Hutchinson ahead of Johnson during the wild-card round. This trio will once again complete Nico Collins as the Texans aim to derail the Chiefs’ triple-header bid on Saturday.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
