Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson isn’t giving the best first impression to the Cleveland Browns.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson spent time with four different teams in 2024 and it doesn’t seem like he’s doing everything he can to change that in 2025 as he reportedly did not show up for the Cleveland Browns OTAs.
Johnson, 28, was a third-round pick (No. 66) by the Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft and was quite productive during his five-year tenure in Pittsburgh, recording 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.
However, his career began to fall apart last season when Pittsburgh traded him to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for cornerback Donte Jackson. It didn’t take long before Johnson became unhappy with the Panthers, forcing his way out of Carolina.
At the trade deadline, the Panthers dealt him to the Baltimore Ravens. But after a few games in Baltimore with a greatly reduced role, Johnson refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was suspended for a week, sat out a week and then was released.
The Houston Texans then claimed Johnson off waivers, but he only lasted two weeks in Houston before he was released again after yet another outburst.
“Diontae Johnson made a scene in the locker room after the game where cigars were literally being smoked and the team was bonding, happy to get a win. It’s very easy to see why [Mike] Tomlin was over him, not Pickens and Baltimore, one of the best organizations in NFL, bailed,” Texans reporter Landry Locker wrote on X.
Johnson eventually landed with the Browns this offseason on a one-year, $1.17 million deal, and it must be noted that OTAs are voluntary. But as a player who has struggled to stick with a team as of late, skipping any portion of the offseason isn’t a good idea.
All eyes will be on Johnson as Cleveland will kick off mandatory minicamp next week.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson Off to Rocky Start with Browns
