In Diontae Johnson’s first game back after being on the injured reserve list Sunday, George Pickens actually ended up with more production (five catches for 107 yards) than what he averaged in the four games during which Johnson was sidelined (4.3 catches, 89.8 yards).
So much for any worries that Pickens might see a drop in usage after the re-insertion of Johnson into the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup.
“We really just kind of push each other,” Pickens said of Johnson, who came off IR for this past Sunday’s win at the Los Angeles Rams. “When I got here (as a rookie) he was a great receiver before I even touched the field or made a catch or anything like that, so we just feed off a personal connection.”
In his return from a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1, Johnson had five catches for 79 yards against the Rams. Pickens was targeted eight times and Johnson six, although it should be noted that in an attempt to lessen Johnson’s workload in his first game back, Johnson played only two-thirds of the Steelers’ 59 offensive snaps. Pickens was on the field for 90% of them.
During the fourth quarter alone — when the Steelers scored two touchdowns and successfully ran out the clock on a third possession — Johnson had two receptions for 50 yards and Pickens three for 70. Johnson, too, drew a pass interference flag on what would have been another first-down catch, but it was nullified by an offsetting taunting penalty.
Regardless, the Steelers were glad to have both of their top two receivers back together. And for both of them to be able to contribute and be productive.
“We always got that, we play off one another, like I always say,” said Johnson, who sat out Thursday’s practice. “He makes a play, I make a play. So that’s like our little thing. That kind of gets us (fired) up.
“Once we both start making plays, then everybody else starts making plays. You see the offense, we got that spark that we need, it shows, so I feel like we did a great job of that, me and George, that spark we have.”
Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.
