Diontae Johnson plans to return for Week 7 vs. Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson said Tuesday he expects to make his on-field return in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Johnson, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Week 1, feels great and is ready to join George Pickens and Allen Robinson atop the Steelers’ receiving corps.
“Hell yeah, I’m coming back,” Johnson said Tuesday, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I have been working my behind off these last three, four weeks. … Today was one of those days to see how far I have come along, and everything looks great out there to [the training staff].
“I felt completely great and healthy, so I am ready for Monday when we come back to start getting back to work.”
Johnson will have four practices to get ready for the Rams game should the Steelers clear him for next Monday’s practice. With Pittsburgh on a bye in Week 6, head coach Mike Tomlin excused players for a five-day break following Tuesday’s practice.
Johnson, 27, has led the Steelers in receiving each of the last three seasons. Over 49 games since 2020, he’s hauled in 284 receptions for 3,014 yards and 15 touchdowns. In the season opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, he reeled in three of his targets for 48 yards.
Diontae Johnson could be a big boost to struggling Steelers offense
The Steelers have gone 3-1 in his absence and lead the AFC North. Pickens, the second-year wideout out of Georgia, has been the primary target for quarterback Kenny Pickett thus far. Pickens has hauled in 22 receptions for 393 yards and two scores. He came down with the 41-yard game-winning score in the 17-10 Week 5 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday.
“They went [cover] 0 and we were kind of preparing for it all week,” Pickett said after the game. “In bigger moments, they’ll go 0, and we got the protection right. George ran his route and went up there and won. Big-time player, making plays in those moments, and that’s what we’ve got in [No.] 14.”
Having both Pickens and Johnson on the field together should help open things up for the league’s 30th-ranked offense.
“He’ll have the impact that he always makes when he’s on the field,” second-year receiver Calvin Austin III said. “A guy that can get open, win one-on-one battles. And he’s the leader of our group, so [getting Johnson back] would be huge.”