A familiar face is back in the AFC North, but this time it will be against perhaps its biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Welcome to Baltimore, @juiceup__3 ‼ ️ pic.twitter.com/Gwi4S0yO6s
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 30, 2024
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who played for the Steelers for five seasons from 2019 to 2023, practiced with the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since being traded from the Carolina Panthers.
The 28-year-old, a pending free agent, was acquired by Baltimore on Tuesday in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick along with a 2025 sixth-round pick. He is one of the last remaining premier options at the receiver position on the trade market, and Carolina is likely to reroute Johnson as they find themselves far from playoff contention with a 1-7 record. So, I decided to retreat and pick up my assets. More sustainable destinations.
Through seven games this season, he has 30 receptions, 357 yards, and three touchdowns. Johnson will now team with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers as the Ravens seek to reach the postseason for the sixth time in seven seasons.
The Steelers originally selected Johnson out of Toledo in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In 77 games with the team (67 starts), he had 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2021.
Johnson agreed to a two-year, $36.71 million contract extension with Pittsburgh in August 2022, but did not intend to commit to fulfilling his contract. He was sent to the Panthers in March for cornerback Donte Jackson, who has started all eight games for the Steelers this year, and a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. It was used to select Iowa State defensive tackle Logan Lee with the 178th pick. whole.
Pittsburgh itself has a need for a receiver, but bringing Johnson back is an NFL rule that says teams can’t trade players away and then reacquire them on another contract until two years have passed. was prohibited.
The Steelers and Ravens will meet in Week 11 at Acrizier Stadium, then in Week 16 at M&T Bank Stadium.
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