Diontae Johnson explains how he’s building chemistry with new QB Bryce Young

The Panthers knew they needed to build around quarterback Bryce Young, last year’s No. pick of the NFL Draft. He had few weapons last season. Now he has several good ones, including Diontae Johnson.

Johnson is the former Steelers starter who saw his catches drop dramatically last season as the Steelers struggled at quarterback. Now, Johnson has a new start with Carolina and a Panthers team that’s desperate to win more than two games a season.

The receiver and the quarterback are growing together. Training camp started this week and both are trying to learn each other’s nuances.

“I feel like our relationship steady growing,” Johnson told reporters this week. “Once I got here, OTAs, and in that first practice or whatnot, we clicked instantly and we are steady growing with each other. We watch film together outside of practice and stuff like that. So I’m just trying to get in the playbook with him and see what he’s looking at on certain things, so I can be on the same page with him.”

Johnson and Adam Thielen should be Young’s go-to receivers when the season starts. The Panthers also gained a first round pick in April and selected South Carolina’s Xavier Legette. Plus, they enhanced their running game by selecting Texas back Jonathon Brooks. He was the top running back in the draft.

And to help make life easier for Young, the Panthers also signed offensive linemen Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Of course, new coach Dave Canales is the biggest addition. He specializes in working with quarterbacks and comebacks. His two most successful projects were Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield.

But if Johnson works out, he could be the biggest on-field addition to the Panthers offense. He’s terrific at getting open, but it’s up to the quarterbacks to see that skill. ESPN stats show that Johnson had an open score of 94 over the past two years. It was highest in the NFL. The Steelers didn’t always take advantage of Johnson’s ability. But maybe Young can do so.

So far, Young is learning Johnson’s ways.

“Diontae is very special in how he moves, how he create separations, how he runs route,” said the Panthers quarterback. “He’s very, very wiry in his movements, quick twitch, the way he can get in and out of breaks, sell routes.

“Everyone has things that, it’s not a good or bad, it’s just different that you have to kind of adjust to. And for Diontae, it’s just the movement, the quick twitch, how quick he is in and out of breaks. So, it’s just kind of accounting for that.”

The best thing the two can do is work together in practice. Reps build chemistry.

“It’s going to take more time, more reps, more conversations and that’s definitely a big point of emphasis for me throughout this training camp,” Young said. “He’s someone that is very, very special in just what he can do and quarterbacks, it’s on us to adapt to that what makes him special, like what makes him different.”