The Ravens have suspended veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
General manager Eric DeCosta issued the following statement on the team’s decision: “We have made the difficult decision to suspend Diontae Johnson for our upcoming game against the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team. Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”
DeCosta added that the Ravens would not have any additional comment on the situation moving forward.
Johnson did not play a single snap in the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to the Eagles despite a knee injury that knocked starter Rashod Bateman out of the game. Head coach John Harbaugh declined to elaborate on Johnson’s absence after the game, though his comments hinted at the sort of internal issue that DeCosta’s statement revealed.
Johnson has been active for all five games since his arrival in Baltimore, but only played 39 snaps on offense with just one catch for six yards on five targets. Bateman’s injury appeared to be an opportunity for the veteran wideout to see more targets from Lamar Jackson, but Johnson refused to enter the game, leading to his suspension. Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace filled in for Bateman instead, with Agholor unable to reel in his two targets while Wallace caught both of his for 14 yards.
The suspension continues a tumultuous contract year for Johnson in which he was averaging 51.0 yards per game in Carolina before his trade to the Ravens. Johnson quickly grew frustrated with his minimal role in Baltimore’s offense, though it is unclear why he would turn down the opportunity for more snaps when it arose.
The Ravens’ decision to suspend Johnson signals that the team is considering moving on from the veteran receiver. Baltimore still thinks that Johnson “could help them down the stretch,” according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, especially if Bateman misses time. However, a team with strong playoff chances and Super Bowl aspirations needs “everyone to be fully committed and team-focused,” per Schultz, forcing the Ravens to determine if Johnson is worth keeping around.
Baltimore has some time to weigh their options with a bye week before their Week 15 matchup against the Giants in which Johnson will be ineligible to play. Keeping him on the roster after the bye would indicate that the Ravens have resolved the situation with Johnson.
This is not the first internal issue the Ravens have dealt with this season. Marcus Williams has been reduced to a healthy scratch multiple times after his struggles in coverage, and Eddie Jackson was released after refusing to travel with the team to Pittsburgh in Week 11.
I’m sure teams that were considering signing him as a free agent this offseason will love this.
He’s an oddball guy. Dude gave up effort in Pittsburgh he played some decent games with Dalton in panthers went to a third team and is effortless all over again. Maybe he’s bipolar or dealing with stuff off field
Honestly, it seems like he wants to play on a bad team with a good QB, and be featured like the star that he isn’t. I don’t know how else it makes sense.
So what you’re saying is….next stop: Jets?
What? We don’t have a good QB lol
lol to blame all jets struggles on Rodgers is hilarious
Wow, you sure took a leap there based on what I said. Not to mention Rodgers won’t even be on the team next year.
You said jets don’t have a good QB and I went off that. Wouldn’t call that a leap lol
The Jets don’t have a good owner, a good GM, a good HC, a good OC, a good LT, a good RT, a good RG, a good TE, a good SS, a good second DT, a good K, or good depth, in addition to not having a good QB, yet somehow you’re suggesting that me saying we don’t have a good QB is pinning the entire blame on Rodgers lol. So yes, you did leap.
Guy complained on Steelers a steady organization that wins.
Was on a loser Panther team and didn’t produce, complained.
Now on Ravens another steady organization that is likely playoff team with aqb that was mvp…complaining.
He needs to realize he is the problem. Not good enough to be a star on bad team and does not want to be a role on winning team.
To be fair, the Steelers always seem to have a problem WR. He was probably 2nd on the team in that department last year. Pickens is looking like a huge problem
I think this off season is going to be interesting if he continues down this road. Do they extend him or move on? You’re right. They’ve had AB, Martavis, this guy, Claypool and going back a ways, even Plax. Here we go again?
Oh Pickens is getting traded for sure before he is due a payday. He hurts the team every game either by penalty or trying to be too cute on a catch. I have seen him be lazy as all heck with his feet when he could have just simply dragged or stab his foot down.
Like Tomlin said he has to grow up fast.
Self sabotage is mostly a WR trait isn’t it?
Give or take a Watson or Rodgers, yes, I believe it is.
Makes you pine for the old Haynesworth days….
Guess who doesn’t want to play anymore
A collapsing team.
No, just a Steelers WR. They are all problematic.
A difficult decision? No, that’s not difficult decision. Guy refused to play…especially when needed in the 2nd half.
Hopefully hims wittle fweelings are hurt by being held accountable.
Johnson has talent so it’s odd that Baltimore hasn’t been playing him. I can’t really blame him for not wanting to play in their most recent game after they inexplicably kept him on the bench for multiple games prior to that. Hopefully whoever he signs with in the offseason will actually give him a chance to play.
The Panthers gave Johnson away for almost nothing. He had issues with Pittsburgh. This indicates that the Panthers made a move of addition by subtraction. Now Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season. I can blame him for not, when given the chance, taking the opportunity to get some snaps. Obviously, with all of the above information, clubs will be leery to take a chance on such a player. Johnson will most likely get a one-year prove it type of deal. He’s a talent and it’s a shame but the damage is self iinflicted. I can blame any player who is uninjured, under contract, and is being paid that refuses to do his job.
Nobody will sign him. He’s not Antonio Brown (whose talent was so superior that teams overlooked his quirky behavior until it became too much). Diontae is done in the NFL. I hope he saved his pennies.
Flawless logic that would get one fired in any other line of work
You can’t blame him? Seriously?
From Pop Warner ball through college, you learn about the idea of team and the role of the coach. Apparently, this guy has never received the memos. Instead, he wants to go all AB, with half the talent
I’m not so sure he’ll be signing in the offseason. He’s too big of a question mark. Wouldn’t surprise me if it takes an in-season injury for a team to take a chance on him.
Does this guy have rocks in his head? How do you refuse to play in a huge game with divisional implications? Even Jackson got onto him about it. Maybe, Appalachian_Outlaw is right? He wants to be the star on a bad team?
The Ravens are having weird issues with a lot of their players. Why have all their defensive backs suddenly become bad players? What happened to Tucker’s focus and the chemistry on special teams? Look at the snap counts on defense and it changes every week. Simpson was out-snapped by Board. Has Roquan looked like the same guy as last year?
There’s zero cohesion with this team and that’s a leadership thing. I think they lost way too many coaches and it’s showing up on the field.
he saw what Cooper Dejean did to King Henry and was like “no thank you, I’m good right here”
Todays nfl, got QBs who take themselves out of gm cause they need a break. Got dudes who when given opportunity to see field, politely say “No !” Hadn’t heard bout guy who didn’t want to travel w/team to gm in Pitt. Was it worth your job ? Surprised Ravens didn’t cut em straight away. Who doesn’t go into the gm ?
“It was even more curious that Johnson never entered the game because starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman was sidelined in the second half with a knee injury. Johnson could be seen standing by a heater on the sideline for most of the game.”
LOL! That’s ok Coach I don’t wanna go in, I’m gonna stay by this heater to try and stay warm.
Everyone on planet earth except decosta thought that was a dumb and useless trade when it happened. That was a trade for the sake of making a trade.
Had a 4 player parlay during preseason. All 3 others hit the over I bet on. Diontae was on pace for 750+ receiving before the trade. Damn you Eric Decosta.
Another great pick up by edc.
Harbaugh is a great coach and I’m sure if he’s not getting any run in BALT there’s a reason for it. And to have all these issues in a contract year? Ouch!
I guess Johnson convinced himself he could be the malcontent for the Ravens that Stefon Diggs was for Buffalo but his talent and trade value are dramatically less.
Tomlin deserves a gold jacket for how much he gets out of these diva WRs before trading them and them instantly imploding.