Mike Tomlin takes apparent shot at former Steeler Diontae Johnson ahead of Ravens game
This Sunday’s Week 10 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) and Baltimore Ravens (7-3) will be a homecoming of sorts for receiver Diontae Johnson, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers traded him in the offseason to the Carolina Panthers (3-7), who then flipped him to the Ravens ahead of last Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Sunday marks Johnson’s return to “The Steel City,” though he hasn’t yet captured much attention from his former head coach, Mike Tomlin. Speaking with the media Tuesday, Tomlin said the Ravens have other offensive pieces that are currently occupying his mind “at this stage in the week.”
“To be honest with you, I haven’t thought a lot about it,” Tomlin said, via 93.7 The Fan. “He’s not on a lot of their video, so at this stage in the week, I don’t know that I’m way, you know, what he might mean to the matchup. They got more significant pieces with larger roles that occupy my attention at this part in the week.”
Diontae Johnson set for larger role against Steelers?
To be fair to Tomlin, the Ravens do indeed have many pieces opposing teams must account for. Those include quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, receiver Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews. Jackson is the frontrunner to win his third NFL MVP Award.
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Johnson, meanwhile, has seldom been on the field since landing in Baltimore. He played 30% of the snaps in Week 9, failing to get on the stat sheet. That number dipped to 8% in the 35-34 Week 10 home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6). Johnson reeled in one catch for six yards.
Head coach John Harbaugh indicated that Johnson’s usage will go up, potentially starting in Pittsburgh.
“He’s been here now for somewhat of a number of practices,” Harbaugh said Monday, via PennLive.com. “I would expect that to ramp up, yes.”