CINCINNATI — Another week, another controversy involving a Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver.
Sunday, it was Diontae Johnson who once again was drawing ire from fans and analysts across the internet and on television for his apparent lack of effort on a first-quarter play early during a Steelers win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Diontae Johnson (No. 18) appeared to have a chance at this loose ball, but was not able to make it happen pic.twitter.com/B736lPSx8H
— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) November 26, 2023
Lined up to the left on a third-and-2 snap from the Bengals’ 15-yard line with 4 minutes, 45 seconds left the first quarter, Johnson first appeared indifferent to blocking Cincinnati cornerback DJ Turner on a running play by Jaylen Warren.
But the optics just got worse from there for Johnson, who last week reportedly got into an altercation with All Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and was “chirping” Steelers coaches and other teammates in frustration.
As the ball bounced in the direction of Johnson after it was stripped out of Warren’s hands, Johnson’s body language appeared to show no urgency. He walked slowly away from the ball, his left hand adjusting his facemask.
Turner, meanwhile, had picked up the ball, and Johnson barely reacted as he sprinted past him down the sideline.
“You watch him and you say, ‘Move. Block. Do something,’” former All Pro and Super Bowl champion and current NBC analyst Devin McCourty said during the “Football Night In America” Sunday night pregame show. “He doesn’t block — if he has been blocking, he might not see the ball. But now he sees (the fumble and return). ‘You’re one of our fastest guys. Chase. Do something.’”
After the game when asked about the play by reporters, Johnson said, “I didn’t see (the fumble).
“I was just doing my job blocking or whatever it is.”
Many national media outlets and blogs saw it differently, openly calling out Johnson’s lack of effort.
Diontae Johnson's (No. 18) effort for the loose ball here ????????
(via @NFLonCBS)pic.twitter.com/UIL5zrzyic
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 26, 2023
Diontae Johnson all hustle team pic.twitter.com/JXuzO1oI8E
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 26, 2023
Such a loser mentality by Diontae Johnson pic.twitter.com/cjzKfwQr0o
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) November 26, 2023
This is embarrassing… Look at #Steelers Diontae Johnson at the top of the screen.
Total lack of effort – a week after fighting teammates and coaches, what is wrong with Johnson?pic.twitter.com/1u6kkb1xjShttps://t.co/XCrz8KOsiT
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 26, 2023
Diontae Johnson walking next to a live fumble that the other team recovered…
Man this isn’t a good look.
(@h/t: @PickensBurgh) pic.twitter.com/SEWHxy13UX
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 26, 2023
Johnson responded to two of the posts criticizing him, albeit cryptically.
Hmmm… better luck next time ????????♂️ https://t.co/ubMgcdm20y
— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) November 27, 2023
Well that came out of no where ???? https://t.co/PrflK1iKoM
— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) November 27, 2023
About 2½ hours after Sunday’s game ended, a post to Johnson’s account made what appeared to be an obvious reference to criticism related to the sequence by writing, “We won that’s all that matters” accompanied by emojis of heavy laughing and a shrug.
We won that’s all that matters ????????????♂️
— Diontae Johnson (@Juiceup__3) November 26, 2023
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