Dionte Johnson Returns to Form, Sparks Steelers’ Defeat of Colts

Steelers’ wide receiver Diontae Johnson makes a leaping catch against the Indianapolis Colts on December 27, 2020 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh (Clyde Harris / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Dionte Johnson leads the league with 12 dropped passes. These dropped passes have come at the most inopportune  time during the recent 3 game losing streak. Two drops in the Steelers loss to Buffalo, three in the loss against Washington, and one against the Bengals. Johnson has attributed the recent occurrences to a lack of focus and overthinking the process of catching the football. It has been a dark and frustrating time for Johnson.

All of his recent problems with dropped passes, faded away against the Indianapolis Colts. Dionte Johnson returned to form, looking like a true number 1 receiver. Johnsons acrobatic 39 yard touchdown pass ignited the Steelers offense, overcoming a 17 point third quarter deficit, en route to a 28-24 victory. The win crowned the Steelers the 2020 AFC North Division Champions.

With Johnson, and the other members of the vaunted Steeler receiving corps returning to the form, the Steelers offense will once again be a force to contend with.

 

Diontae Johnson Still Sidelined With Hip Injury

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson during Training Camp on August 21, 2020 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The rising star on the Steelers’ offense will be sidelined a bit due to a minor injury, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said Friday.

In Friday’s practice, wide receiver Diontae Johnson interacted with teammates and walked the field but didn’t practice. Coach Tomlin didn’t specify the severity of the hip injury he endured or the time he will be out. However, Tomlin mentioned that both Johnson and Terrell Edmunds will miss time. “There are couple of guys that missed today’s work, new guys with minor ailments that can be described as day-to-day.” Tomlin said. “That’s Diontae Johnson and T [Terrell] Edmunds. Hopefully, those guys get back to us really soon. Again, it could be described as day-to-day.”

Johnson is expected to see significant playing time this year. He impressed in his rookie (2019) season racking up 59 receptions, 680 yards and 5 touchdowns.


BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  

EDITORIAL: Steelers’ Diontae Johnson Improves in All Aspects of His Game

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 14, 2019. (Clyde Harris, Jr. / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The Steelers’ training room is filled with the bodies of the fallen. One of those fallen is Dionte Johnson who was injured with a concussion in the Browns game in Cleveland on Nov 14. He has since recovered and provided a much needed spark to the Steelers offense! 

Johnson caught 6 passes for 60 yards plus a touchdown and electrified the crowd with an 83-yard punt return. He scored both of Pittsburgh’s touchdowns, in the 23-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals! The NFL announced Dionte Johnson as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week as a result of his outstanding performance.

Dionte’s performance heralds a very bright future!

Two Starting Wideouts in Steelers’ Concussion Protocol

Steelers wide receivers Diontae Johnson (18) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) share a moment on the sideline after Johnson’s 45-yard touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins on October 28, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Brian Cook / Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — Banged up wideouts JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson are added to the list of starters who have temporarily fallen victim to injuries. 

In the game against the Cleveland Browns Thursday, both standouts left the game with concussions and as of Monday, were still in concussion protocol. Neither were available for interviews.

JuJu Smith-Schuster left the game after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. In the second quarter, 2 defenders, [former Steeler] Morgan Burnett and Greedy Williams made contact with both sides of Smith-Schuster’s helmet, on the same play, leaving him motionless on the field. He was later able to walk off the field on his own.

Smith-Schuster took to his Twitter account to thank those who were supportive following his injury:

As for Diontae Johnson, Browns safety Damarious Randall lowered his head and collided in the third quarter with Johnson after a helmet-to-helmet hit, leaving him wincing in pain. Johnson started bleeding from his ear shortly thereafter. The hit prompted an immediate ejection of Randall.

The Steelers announced the signings of two receivers, Quadree Henderson and Amara Darboh, Thursday in addition to additional roster moves.

In a statement from the Steelers:

“The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed wide receiver Deon Cain and running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. to the 53-man roster, it was announced today. To make room on the 53-man roster, the Steelers released linebacker Jayrone Elliott and running back Tony Brooks-James.”

 


BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  

EDITORIAL: Dionte Johnson is Steelers’ Rising Star

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field on October 28, 2019 at Heinz field in Pittsburgh. (Clyde Harris / ClydeAllen Photography for Golden Sky Media)

PITTSBURGH (GSM) — The Steelers have a rising star at wide receiver.

In the absence of embattled wide receiver, Antonio Brown, rookie Dionte Johnson provides plenty of missing firepower from the Steelers’ passing game.

The Steelers have now a new rising star at wide receiver.

There is a new era, as we have all heard at nauseam, related to the void left from the injury to all-pro and future Hall of Fame Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the departures of Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. There is no debate that there is a difference in the offense, missing this high level of offensive firepower! 

Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson celebrates with fans after scoring a 45-yard receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field on October 28, 2019 at Heinz field in Pittsburgh. (Clyde Harris / ClydeAllen Photography for Golden Sky Media)

In my opinion, there is a glimmer of hope, with the emergence of Dionte Johnson. The former University of Toledo standout has shown he can be a legitimate threat, has great hands, is a solid route runner and possesses game breaking speed. Johnson has 30 catches for 363 yards with 3 touchdowns, the longest being the electrifying catch and run against the Miami Dolphins at Heinz Field.

Johnson is not an Antonio Brown and it is truly unfair to make the comparison. However, Johnson is an outstanding wide receiver, and in this period of transition away from the “Killer B’s” (Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Ben Roethlisberger), he should be allowed to continue developing and be measured against his own standard, one that, if it continues this trajectory, will be exciting to watch and lethal for any opponent of the Steelers.