Diontae Johnson’s Turbulent NFL Season

Diontae Johnson, a veteran wide receiver, had quite a rocky journey last season across three teams. Starting with the Baltimore Ravens, it didn’t take long for things to unravel—he was let go after just four games.

This offseason, Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns, breaking his silence about his previous situation recently. During a podcast appearance, he mentioned an episode from the Ravens’ thirteenth-week game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The frigid weather was a big factor, making fellow receiver Rushed Bateman hesitant to return after an injury in the third quarter.

“It was really cold. I found myself going to the heater, then back out, just waiting to hear my name. I thought, ‘Maybe this isn’t a smart move for me,’ because, you know, it was about my leg,” Johnson explained. It wasn’t his first experience with cold games, having played five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet, the low temperatures weren’t the only thing that kept him sidelined that day.

“I checked out mentally. I felt like, whatever happens, happens. I was just waiting on the bench when they decided to pull me,” Johnson shared. He faced a suspension during the Ravens’ fourteenth-week win over the New York Giants and subsequently was exempt from team activities before ultimately asking to be released. “I figured coming back would just hurt me more, so I requested to be released, and Houston picked me up,” he added.

Johnson had initially been traded to the Carolina Panthers in March 2024 before landing back in Baltimore mid-season. After his release, he had a brief stint with the Texans, appearing in just one game before being cut again.

Now with the Browns, Johnson is part of a receiving corps that, aside from Jerry Judy, lacks depth. As he prepares for the Cleveland weather ahead, he seems resolute: “I’m not even trying to think about it.”