The ongoing saga of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson continues. Multiple sources including Ian Rapoport are reporting that Johnson has been waived by the Houston Texans just days before their playoff showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pittsburgh traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 offseason after the team determined his production on the field didn’t outweigh the non-football issues Johnson presented.
Since Week eight of the 2024 season, Johnson has been on three NFL teams and has four total receptions. Now Johnson finds himself on the hunt for a team once again instead of working in the playoffs with the Texans.
The #Texans have waived WR Diontae Johnson.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2025
It’s amazing to think how far Johnson fell in such a short period of time. From 2020-2022, Johnson hauled in 281 passes for 2,966 yards. His production fell off in 2023, leading to the trade and it’s been all downhill from there.
We know the Steelers have no qualms about bringing back former players as a sign of loyalty and whatnot but in this case, no matter how much the Steelers need a wide receiver, it’s hard to see them entertaining the idea of bringing Johnson back into the fold.
