Ravens waive WR Diontae Johnson, elevate Anthony Miller vs. Steelers with Nelson Agholor out

Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun on Dec 20, 2024

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Diontae Johnson’s Ravens career was as brief as it was ignominious.

Baltimore announced Friday that it has waived the irascible veteran wide receiver. The move came four days after what the organization called a mutual agreement that he would be away from the team for this week and on the eve of the Ravens’ huge AFC North showdown against one of Johnson’s former teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Johnson appeared in just four games for Baltimore, refused to go into one and was suspended for another after being acquired in a trade from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29.

He played just 39 offensive snaps and had one catch for 6 yards. He was also animated after one game and refused to go in against the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month, thus leading to a one-game suspension against the New York Giants.

But even as some players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and receiver Zay Flowers, said publicly that they would welcome him back it became increasingly obvious that he wouldn’t be returning.

Baltimore had hoped its trade for Johnson in a swap of draft picks with the Panthers would help bolster its receiving depth, or at least net a compensatory draft pick. Neither happened.

Johnson, 28, led the Panthers in receiving but never fit in with the Ravens, becoming visibly upset in the locker room following at least two games and then refusing to go into the Eagles game even after Rashod Bateman was ruled out in the third quarter with a sore knee. Philadelphia won, 24-19, and it turned out to be Johnson’s last day on the field for the Ravens with them announcing his suspension three days later.

By waiving him before he hit free agency, the Ravens also won’t get an extra draft pick when he signs with another team.

That wasn’t the only notable wide receiver news on the day for Baltimore, either.

Earlier on Friday, the Ravens ruled out Nelson Agholor (concussion) for Saturday’s game against the Steelers. That leaves them thin at the position with Johnson’s departure and Bateman (foot) questionable for the game.

To fill the void, the Ravens elevated veteran wide receiver Anthony Miller from the practice squad, along with defensive back and punt returner Desmond King.

Miller, 30, signed with the Ravens in August but hasn’t played since 2021 when he split time with the Houston Texans and the Steelers. He suffered a season-ending shoulder in Steelers training camp the following August and has bounced around several practice squads since before being released by the Kansas City Chiefs in May.

A 2018 second-round draft pick out of Memphis, Miller had 134 catches for 1,564 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first three seasons with the Chicago Bears.

While the Ravens could be without at least two of their regular starters at receiver, the Steelers are also shorthanded at the position. George Pickens, who leads Pittsburgh in receptions (55) and receiving yards (850) and has three touchdowns, will miss his third straight game with a hamstring injury.

If Pittsburgh (10-4) wins Saturday, it would clinch the AFC North title. If Baltimore (9-5) wins — or if the Miami Dolphins lose or tie and the Indianapolis Colts do the same — the Ravens would clinch a playoff berth and pull into a first-place tie in the division with the Steelers with two games remaining in the regular season.