The Baltimore Ravens have issued a one-game suspension to lately acquired huge receiver Diontae Johnson for refusing to take the sector of their Week 13 recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Now we have made the tough choice to droop Diontae Johnson for our upcoming recreation in opposition to the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the workforce,” Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta wrote in a launched assertion. “Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Assertion from GM Eric DeCosta. pic.twitter.com/2sNNaeNbFO
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 4, 2024
With the Ravens on bye in Week 14, Johnson will likely be held out of Baltimore’s Week 15 recreation in opposition to the Giants.
The Ravens acquired Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round decide from the Carolina Panthers in change for a 2025 fifth-rounder on the commerce deadline, placing Johnson on his third workforce since March. By means of the primary 4 weeks with Baltimore, Johnson has performed simply 39 offensive snaps, catching one cross on 5 targets for six yards. Earlier than his acquisition by the Ravens, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns with the Panthers whereas posting the third-lowest yards per goal (6.2) of his profession.
Following Johnson’s refusal to take the sector in opposition to Philadelphia, Ravens coach John Harbaugh gave some imprecise feedback in regards to the receiver’s standing with the workforce.
“There’s some transferring components there that we’re going to have to determine and discover, and see the place we’re at,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I do know that’s not the reply you need, however that’s one of the best I can do in equity to all people proper now.”
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Ravens’ John Harbaugh mum on Diontae Johnson’s standing with workforce
Harbaugh declined a follow-up query about whether or not Johnson would stay on the roster, saying, “We’ll simply work it out, see the place we’re at over the following few days this week.”
Whereas the Ravens’ offense has managed simply nice with out Johnson — the workforce presently leads the league in EPA dropback per play (0.299) whereas quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the league in adjusted yards per try (9.85) — it may definitely use depth at receiver amid its push for an AFC North title and past. Baltimore solely has two huge receivers with greater than 50 targets and simply three with double-digit targets on the season. Rashod Bateman, second on the workforce in targets, went down with a knee damage throughout the Ravens’ recreation in opposition to the Eagles and acquired remedy for knee soreness on Monday.
Johnson’s rising frustration
Johnson’s rising frustration together with his lack of involvement in Baltimore’s offense had change into palpable in current weeks. He’s been emotional after video games, a lot in order that Jackson has spent vital time with Johnson at his locker speaking issues via and making an attempt to calm the emotional huge receiver down.
Issues reached a boiling level throughout Sunday’s loss to the Eagles after Johnson didn’t get on the sector early within the recreation. The Ravens formally dominated beginning huge receiver Bateman out early within the third quarter due to a knee damage, and Johnson declined quite a few requests to play. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens beat author
Does Johnson have a future in Baltimore?
The query is the place the Ravens and Johnson go from right here. They acquired him as a result of they needed so as to add some depth at receiver and one other man able to creating separation. However Johnson has been used sparingly and has but to develop any chemistry with Jackson.
DeCosta in all probability doesn’t wish to simply launch Johnson and permit him to catch on with a workforce the Ravens might need to face down the stretch or within the playoffs. Nonetheless, will Johnson even be welcomed within the locker room when teammates know he declined to play in a recreation in opposition to one of many league’s heavyweights?
For there to be a path ahead, Johnson in all probability must be contrite and embrace his function as a reserve receiver. Whether or not that occurs is as much as Johnson, who has in all probability already value himself a ton of cash as a pending unrestricted free agent. — Zrebiec
Required studying
(Photograph: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photos)
