Baltimore Ravens and Diontae Johnson ‘mutually’ agree to ‘excuse’ wide receiver from team activities following suspension
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The Baltimore Ravens and wide receiver Diontae Johnson have mutually agreed to excuse him from team activities this week, according to a statement from the team. This decision follows Johnson’s suspension for one game on December 4 for “conduct detrimental to the team” after he refused to enter the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1.
With the Ravens on a bye week in Week 14, Johnson missed the team’s win over the New York Giants. Initially, it was expected that Johnson would return to team activities this week, but the new decision means he will also miss preparations for the upcoming Saturday game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of his former teams.
Head coach John Harbaugh, when asked about Johnson’s future with the team, said, “What I foresee really, to be honest with you, and all I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh and getting our team ready for Pittsburgh.” Harbaugh added, “So, he won’t be here this week and next week will take care of itself.”
The Saturday game is significant for the Ravens, who are looking to keep pace with the Steelers, currently at 10-4, at the top of the AFC North. A win for the Steelers would secure the division title. Harbaugh, however, kept the focus on the upcoming game and did not delve into the reasons behind Johnson’s absence from team activities.
When asked why the Ravens chose to excuse Johnson instead of releasing him, Harbaugh responded, “I know you guys want to hear the story. There’s a lot of moving parts. There are reasons for doing things that are front office-type reasons.” He continued, “Do I want to sit here and get into all the different calculations that Eric (DeCosta, the team’s general manager) makes? I really don’t. I want to think about Pittsburgh and our team getting ready for Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here playing against Pittsburgh. That’s my focus 100%.”
Johnson, who was traded to the Ravens from the Carolina Panthers on October 29, has struggled to make an impact with his new team. Since the trade, he has recorded just one catch for six yards, highlighting his lack of production thus far.
This suspension and the decision to excuse him from activities this week are part of a larger trend of player-related controversies in the NFL. Just recently, the San Francisco 49ers suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for three games following an incident in which he refused to enter the game during a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Like Johnson, Campbell’s actions were deemed detrimental to his team.
In Johnson’s case, it remains to be seen what the long-term consequences will be, especially given his minimal contribution since joining the Ravens. His absence from practices and team meetings leading up to the Steelers game could impact his role with the team, with questions swirling about whether the Ravens plan to move forward with him beyond this season.
The Ravens are focused on their upcoming match against the Steelers, which could be a pivotal moment in the AFC North race. With the division title on the line, the team’s attention is fully on preparation for the game, with no definitive timeline for Johnson’s return to the team. Harbaugh and the Ravens are clear that the priority is winning the game and ensuring the team is ready to face Pittsburgh, with any decisions about Johnson’s future addressed when the time comes.
For now, Johnson’s status with the Ravens is uncertain, and his absence will be a topic of ongoing discussion as the team prepares for one of its most important matchups of the season.
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