Steelers trade Diontae Johnson to Panthers after 'locker room scar'

14 March 2024 , 06:30

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Diontae Johnson's tumultuous time in Pittsburgh has come to an end. (Image: Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to trade wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers. This comes after a season filled with tension, where Johnson reportedly had shouting matches with his teammates and upset coach Mike Tomlin by not trying hard enough to recover a loose ball.

ESPN reports that in return for Johnson, the Steelers will receive cornerback Donte Jackson from the Panthers, along with a late-round pick swap. The Steelers managed to find a new team for Johnson before Friday, which means they won't have to pay him a £2.25 million ($3 million) roster bonus.

Johnson was part of one of the most dramatic receiving rooms in the NFL in 2023, alongside George Pickens who also faced criticism for his effort level. Now, Johnson will be joining forces with Bryce Young, the first player picked in the 2023 draft.

Young struggled in his rookie year due to a lack of support and couldn't perform as well as C. J. Stroud, who was picked right after him. Last November, ESPN reported that Johnson had a heated argument with Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick had asked Johnson to stop insulting his coaches as they left the field, which led to a big argument. This incident reportedly left a lasting impact on the locker room and was serious enough for Tomlin to address it with the whole team.

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Later that same month, Johnson didn't try to recover a loose ball in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. His lack of effort led to Tomlin publicly commenting on it the following week.

"Diontae can't let the emotions of the previous down affect his next down, but I'll give him an opportunity to address that with you guys," Tomlin told reporters. "I'll give him an opportunity to address that with his teammates. I'm not going to add any additional color. I think plays like that are best described and outlined by those involved and less so by guys like me."

Diontae Johnson reportedly fought with teammates and coaches in 2023 (Getty Images)

Pittsburgh's offense looked dysfunctional for much of the 2023 season, with Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky struggling under center before Mason Rudolph stepped in to provide a brief lift. The organization fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada in a rare midseason dismissal by its typically patient ownership, letting him go on Nov.20.

This week, the Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson to compete for the starting job. Wilson spent the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos following a long, successful run with the Seattle Seahawks.

Johnson's departure makes Pickens Pittsburgh's unquestioned first-choice wide receiver. Tight end Pat Freiermuth will try to provide offensive balance by working the seams.

But after an injury-ravaged year for the 25-year-old, it's unclear how much the Steelers should expect from him. In five seasons with Pittsburgh, Johnson caught 391 passes for 4,463 yards and 25 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2021.

Dan Bernstein