WR Diontae Johnson waived after two games with Texans

The Houston Texans waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Tuesday as they prepare for their divisional round playoff game Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After the Texans’ playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers last Saturday, Johnson was visibly upset in the locker room. He was fully dressed, sitting in front of his locker, looking frustrated at the lack of playing time and targets. Running back Joe Mixon and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair tried to comfort and encourage him.

Johnson played only 15 of the Texans’ 70 offensive snaps and received only one target. He finished the game with a 12-yard catch.

Johnson had three catches for 24 yards in two games with Houston after the Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on December 23. Baltimore moved on from the receiver after refusing to participate in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1. .

Before the Ravens waived Johnson, they suspended him one game for his refusal to play against the Eagles. Baltimore acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on October 29, but he played only 39 snaps for the team, catching one pass for 6 yards.

The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season. He had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he was dealt to the Ravens.

The Steelers drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2019 draft and he had 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in Pittsburgh. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 with his only 1,000-yard season and career-high eight touchdown receptions in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s final year.

ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime contributed to this report.