NFL insider reveals Diontae Johnson's role with Ravens after WR's return from suspension
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens from the Carolina Panthers just ahead of the trade deadline in early November. Johnson's short time with the team surprisingly hasn't given him much production on the field.
In four games with the Ravens, he has just one catch for six yards. The frustration of not being utilized in the Ravens' offense apparently boiled over and led to the team suspending him for one game. The Baltimore Ravens were on a bye last week and Johnson will serve his suspension this week.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday morning that Diontae Johnson is expected to be back at the Ravens' facilities on Monday morning. The Ravens expect Johnson to get right back to business and help the team in their efforts to make the playoffs.
“The hope is that Johnson, who is expected to return to the building on Monday, will find his way back into the good graces of this team and be a key contributing factor for them down the stretch … No reason to believe at this point that he won't suit up for the team again,” Mike Garafolo reported.
The Baltimore Ravens will take on the New York Giants in an away fixture on Sunday. Johnson will return in time to face his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, at home, next Saturday.
Why was Diontae Johnson suspended?
During the Baltimore Ravens' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, wide receiver Diontae Johnson was reportedly unhappy with his lack of production and playing time. When Johnson was asked to enter the game, he refused to do so.
Just a few days later, the Baltimore Ravens announced that they had suspended Diontae Johnson for one game due to "conduct detrimental to the team".
Johnson likely thought that after he was traded by the Carolina Panthers, he would become a valuable weapon in the Ravens' offensive plan moving forward. Since that didn't happen, he apparently wanted to make a statement of his own on how he felt about the situation.
Johnson isn't the only player to refuse to enter a game within the last few weeks. On Thursday night, San Francisco 49ers' De'Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game after he was demoted to second on the depth chart after the return of Dre Greenlaw to the defense.