Diontae Johnson: Difference between revisions

{{About|the American football wide receiver|the fullback|Dionte Johnson|the linebacker|Dyontae Johnson}}

'''Diontae Lamarcus Johnson''' (born July 5, 1996) is an American professional [[American football|football]] [[wide receiver]] for the [[Carolina Panthers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] atfor the [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo Rockets]] and was draftedselected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the third round of the [[2019 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fittipaldo |first=Ray |date=April 12, 2019 |title=Steelers playing host to Toledo WR Diontae Johnson |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/04/12/Steelers-playing-host-to-Toledo-WR-Diontae-Johnson-Friday-predraft-visit/stories/201904120101 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427014353/https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/04/12/Steelers-playing-host-to-Toledo-WR-Diontae-Johnson-Friday-predraft-visit/stories/201904120101 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Johnson attended and played [[high school football]] at [[Earl J. Lennard High School]] in [[Ruskin, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diontae Johnson, Lennard , Wide Receiver |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Diontae-Johnson-77270/high-school-134715/ |access-date=March 23, 2020 |website=247Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brady |first=Kevin |date=February 4, 2015 |title=Lennard’sLennard's Diontae Johnson named state, county all-star |url=https://www.observernews.net/2015/02/04/lennards-diontae-johnson-named-state-county-all-star/ |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=The Observer News (South Shore, Riverview, Sun City Center and North Manatee) |language=en-US |archive-date=March 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304003823/https://www.observernews.net/2015/02/04/lennards-diontae-johnson-named-state-county-all-star/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Johnson was drafted by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the third round, 66th overall, of the [[2019 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2019 |title=Steelers select Johnson in third round |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-select-johnson-in-third-round |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=Steelers.com |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609044505/https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-select-johnson-in-third-round |url-status=live }}</ref> The Steelers originally acquired the selection in a trade that sent [[Antonio Brown]] to the [[Oakland Raiders]]. Johnson made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the [[New England Patriots]]. In the game, Johnson made three catches for 25 yards in the 33–3 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2019 |title=Brady starts his 20th season by beating Steelers 33–3 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127860 |access-date=September 8, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=September 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910085924/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127860 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 3 against the [[San Francisco 49ers]], Johnson caught three passes for 52 yards and his first career touchdown as the Steelers lost 24–20.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2019 |title=Sloppy 49ers beat Steelers 24–20 on late Garoppolo TD pass |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127998 |access-date=September 22, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923011510/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127998 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 8 against the [[Miami Dolphins]], Johnson caught five passes for a career-high 84 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown, in the 27–14 win.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2019 |title=Steelers overcome slow start, drop winless Dolphins 27–14 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128074 |access-date=October 28, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104011247/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128074 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 11 against the [[Cleveland Browns]] on ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'', Johnson was concussed after safety [[Damarious Randall]] made a helmet to helmet hit on him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2019 |title=Browns, Steelers brawl at end of Cleveland's 21–7 win |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128044 |access-date=November 14, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117075237/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128044 |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 14 against the [[Arizona Cardinals]], Johnson caught six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown and returned a punt for an 85-yard touchdown in the 23–17 win, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2019 |title=Steelers hang on for 23–17 victory over Cardinals |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128002 |access-date=December 8, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=December 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210192434/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128002 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=December 11, 2019 |title=Ryan Tannehill, Jimmy Garoppolo among Players of the Week |url=httphttps://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086756/article/ryan-tannehill-jimmy-garoppolo-among-players-of-the-week-0ap3000001086756 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211134024/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001086756/article/ryan-tannehill-jimmy-garoppolo-among-players-of-the-week |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 3, 2020, Johnson was named to the [[NFL]] All-Pro Second-team as a punt return specialist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 NFL All-Pros |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/allpro.htm |access-date=March 23, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130103819/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/allpro.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Overall, Johnson finished the 2019 season with 59 receptions for 680 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diontae Johnson 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnDi01/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=March 23, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323185509/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnDi01/gamelog/2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Week 15 against the [[Carolina Panthers]], Johnson had his best game of the season with 10 receptions for 98 yards, both season highs.<ref>{{Cite webmagazine |lastlast1=Strackbein |firstfirst1=Noah |last2=Thompson |first2=Stephen |title=Steelers vs Panthers Takeaways: Diontae Johnson's Shut Up Game |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/allsteelers-plus/pittsburgh-steelers-panthers-takeaways-diontae-johnsons-shut-game |access-date=January 13, 2023 |websitemagazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 19, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=January 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113044643/https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/allsteelers-plus/pittsburgh-steelers-panthers-takeaways-diontae-johnsons-shut-game |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished the 2022 season with a team-high 86 receptions for 882 yards and zero touchdowns, setting an NFL record for most receptions in a season without a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marczi |first=Matthew |date=January 9, 2023 |title=So Close, Yet So Far: Diontae Johnson Officially Owns Record For Most Catches Without A TD |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/01/so-close-yet-so-far-diontae-johnson-officially-owns-record-for-most-catches-without-a-td/ |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=Steelers Depot |language=en-US}}</ref>

Johnson opened up the 2023 season against the 49ers, in which he sustained a hamstring injury, taking him out of action for at least a month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strackbein |first=Noah |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Steelers Waiting on Cam Heyward, Diontae Johnson Decisions |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-waiting-cam-heyward-diontae-johnson-decisions |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=si.com |archive-date=November 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103031122/https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-waiting-cam-heyward-diontae-johnson-decisions |url-status=live }}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on September 18, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Steelers make roster moves ahead of MNF|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-roster-moves-ahead-of-mnf|website=Steelers.com|date=September 18, 2023|access-date=September 19, 2023|archive-date=September 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922213014/https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-make-roster-moves-ahead-of-mnf|url-status=live}}</ref> He was activated on October 21, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Steelers activate Johnson, make other moves|url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-johnson-make-other-moves|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=October 21, 2023|access-date=October 21, 2023|archive-date=October 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021155302/https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-johnson-make-other-moves|url-status=live}}</ref> He caught a touchdown in week 9 against the [[Tennessee Titans]], his first in 655 days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Diontae Johnson's last TD catch: Steelers WR finally end drought that started with Ben Roethlisberger {{!}} Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/diontae-johnson-last-td-catch-steelers-wr-drought/9b9449aa42eedb7d06812f46 |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-us}}</ref> He also had a season-high 90 yards in the same game. He finished the 2023 season with 51 receptions for 717 yards and five touchdowns. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-03-12|title=Steelers trade Diontae Johnson to Panthers, per sources: What Carolina gets in the WR|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5337389/2024/03/12/steelers-diontae-johnson-panthers-trade/|website=The Athletic|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref>

{{footballstats|pfr=J/JohnDi01|yahoo=31898|nfl=diontae-johnson}}