Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t overly focused on preparing to face his former receiver, Diontae Johnson, but this week could be Johnson’s breakout moment in Baltimore. Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned that Johnson’s workload will “ramp up” as he becomes more familiar with Baltimore’s high-powered offense, a significant upgrade from his time with one of the league’s struggling offenses this season.
Johnson, who spent five seasons in Pittsburgh before being traded to Carolina and then to Baltimore, is still adjusting. He caught 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns with the Panthers before joining the Ravens. Baltimore is the only team to surpass 4,000 total yards this season, reaching 4,402 yards in just 10 games. Their offensive efficiency ranks alongside historic units like the 2007 New England Patriots and 2018 Kansas City Chiefs, so Johnson’s role has yet to fully take shape.
In his first two games with the Ravens, Johnson played limited snaps and had minimal time to learn offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system before his first game. “I can’t go in there expecting a lot or putting too much pressure on myself,” Johnson commented, focusing on gradually learning Baltimore’s playbook and formations.
Tomlin addressed the matchup, admitting, “I hadn’t thought a lot about it. He’s not on a lot of their video, and I’ve got other players occupying my attention.” Johnson, however, is now having his first full practice week, which may help him find rhythm with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who noted Johnson’s progress after some practice time together.
Jackson acknowledged that Baltimore has no rush to integrate Johnson, given the Ravens’ existing offensive strength. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Jackson said. “But we definitely want to get him involved because he’s a great talent.” Harbaugh’s plan to “ramp up” Johnson’s usage suggests he could play a more prominent role, especially with a key game against his former team this Sunday.
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