Diontae Johnson was amped for his first game back since injuring his hamstring in Week 1. He showed it by helping get the Pittsburgh Steelers offense back on track and reveling in a little jawing with his defender.
Said defender happened to be former Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, with whom Johnson is “cool.” Only the referees didn’t know that — not that it would’ve mattered anyway.
“I got too excited in the moment,” Johnson admitted to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko. “I didn’t really do nothin. I kinda went like this to him (using the quiet gesture). We cool… but the refs wouldn’t know.”
After two seasons in Pittsburgh, the team cut Witherspoon in May. He’s enjoyed a career resurgence since joining the Los Angeles Rams in June, notching two interceptions, four defended passes and 12 tackles (one for loss) in six starts.
In hindsight, Johnson knew he should’ve taken the higher road. “It was just one of those situations I could avoid and just be smart.”
Diontae Johnson said he got “a little too excited in the moment” on his taunting penalty, and that he was just having fun with former teammate Ahkello Witherspoon but the officials wouldn’t know they’re friends. pic.twitter.com/wNLBCZUDvb
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) October 23, 2023
Taunting typically carries a loss of 15 yards, but since Witherspoon interfered (if you can call it that) with Johnson, the penalties offset.
Johnson’s was the second taunting infraction of the game, as George Pickens got called for it on the previous drive.
Mike Tomlin has to reign in the stupid, avoidable penalties. But he’d rather say ‘whoa than sic ’em,’ so the players must show self-restraint in the future.
