The Baltimore Ravens have issued a one-game suspension to recently-acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson for refusing to take the field in Baltimore’s Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“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,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta wrote in a released statement. “Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Statement from GM Eric DeCosta. pic.twitter.com/2sNNaeNbFO
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 4, 2024
With the Ravens on bye in Week 14, Johnson will be held out of Baltimore’s Week 15 game against the New York Giants.
The Ravens acquired Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick at the trade deadline, putting Johnson on his third team since March. Through the first four weeks with Baltimore, Johnson has played just 39 offensive snaps, catching one pass on five targets for six yards. Before his acquisition by the Ravens, Johnson posted 357 receiving yards and three touchdowns with the Panthers while posting the third-lowest yards per target (6.2) of his career.
Following Johnson’s refusal to take the field against Philadelphia, Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave some vague comments about Johnson’s status with the team.
“There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore, and see where we’re at,” Harbaugh said. “I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.”
GO DEEPER
Ravens’ John Harbaugh mum on Diontae Johnson’s status with team
Harbaugh declined a follow-up question about whether Johnson would remain on the roster, saying “We’ll just work it out, see where we’re at over the next few days this week.”
While the Ravens offense have managed just fine without Johnson — the team currently leads the league in dropback EPA per play (0.299) while quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the league in adjusted yards per attempt (9.85) — they could certainly use depth at receiver amid their push for an AFC North title and beyond. Baltimore only has two wide receivers with more than 50 targets and just three with double-digit targets on the season. Rashod Bateman, second on the team in targets, went down with a knee injury during the Ravens’ game with the Philadelphia Eagles and received treatment for knee soreness on Monday.
Johnson’s growing frustration
Johnson’s growing frustration with his lack of involvement in the Ravens offense had become palpable in recent weeks. He’s been emotional after games, so much so that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has spent significant time with Johnson at his locker talking things through and trying to calm the emotional wide receiver down.
Things reached a boiling point during Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles after Johnson didn’t get on the field early in the game. The Ravens officially ruled starting wide receiver Bateman out early in the third quarter because a knee injury and Johnson declined numerous requests to play. — Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Ravens beat writer
Does Johnson have a future in Baltimore?
The question is where the Ravens and Johnson go from here. The Ravens acquired him because they wanted to add some depth at wide receiver and another guy capable of creating separation. But Johnson has been used sparingly and he’s yet to develop any chemistry with Jackson. He’s been targeted five times and only one of those was a completion for six yards.
DeCosta probably doesn’t want to just release Johnson and allow him to catch on with a team that the Ravens might have to face down the stretch or in the playoffs. However, will Johnson be even welcomed in the locker room when teammates know that he declined to play in a game against one of the league’s heavyweights?
In order for there to be a path forward, Johnson would probably have to be contrite and embrace his role as a reserve receiver. Whether that happens is up to Johnson, who has probably already cost himself a ton of money as a pending unrestricted free agent. — Zrebiec
Required reading
(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
