Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson disputed the idea that he punched quarterback Mitchell Trubisky during halftime of a Week 4 game against the Jets after a new report suggested otherwise on Friday.
Earlier in the morning, CBS Sports analyst Greg Gionnoti re-hashed the previously reported halftime altercation between the two teammates, but added that Johnson had reportedly punched Trubisky in the face during the argument. Gionnoti claimed that the confrontation led to Pittsburgh benching the starting quarterback in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett, who would go on to start for the remainder of the season.
Though Gionnoti’s report began to make its way around social media, Johnson issued a firm denial that the disagreement ever escalated to that point.
“Fake News!” Johnson wrote on Twitter in response to the report.
Trubisky also weighed in on the report about the confrontation, saying that there was “zero truth” to the rumor.
Additionally, The Athletic reported during the season that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had already planned to bench Trubisky in the second half of the game and that the altercation between the two players had nothing to do with the decision to turn to Pickett. Pittsburgh ended up losing the game to New York, 24–20.
Johnson had previously addressed the heated locker room exchange with Trubisky, revealing that the two did in fact argue at halftime but are back on good terms.
“We’re both passionate about the game. Stuff happens during football,” Johnson said, per All Steelers. “We’re fine, we talked about it. We made up, better over the whole situation. No hard feelings towards each other. That’s still my guy at the end of the day.”
