Steelers place Pat Freiermuth on injured reserve, activate Diontae Johnson
The Steelers are getting some much-needed help at wide receiver. Pittsburgh announced on Saturday morning that it has activated Diontae Johnson from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Rams.
Johnson has been sidelined since the team’s Week 1 loss to the 49ers. He returned to practice earlier this week but remained on the injured reserve list. The Steelers had a 21-day window to activate the receiver.
“I am very excited. It’s been a long process, fighting to get back. I am looking forward to showing them I am ready for Sunday,” Johnson said, via the team’s website.
Johnson caught three passes for 48 yards before exiting Pittsburgh’s 30-7 loss to San Francisco in the opener.
In addition to activating Johnson, the Steelers also announced that they placed tight end Pat Freiermuth on the injured reserve list. He missed Pittsburgh’s game against the Ravens because of a hamstring issue.
Freiermuth has caught eight passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns this season.
This comes as a change from the tight end’s comments earlier this week, saying he expected to play in Sunday’s game against Los Angeles. The Steelers are coming off a bye, and Freiermuth believed he was in good enough shape to suit up for Pittsburgh in Week 7.
Instead, the Steelers will move forward without their tight end for Sunday’s game.
Johnson comments on return for Steelers
There was never any doubt, at least in Johnson’s mind, that he’d be back on the field for the Steelers at some point this season. The five-year veteran is itching to catch passes again.
“(Heck) yeah, I’m coming back,” said Johnson. “I’ve been working my behind off these last three, four weeks. I feel completely great and healthy. I am ready for Monday when we come back and get back to work.”
Johnson says he feels like he’s at full strength after going through the recovery process.
“I feel 100 percent right now,” said Johnson. “The trainers, I appreciate them for pushing me through that whole process. Keeping my head level. Not coming in here down and stuff like that. I always had a positive attitude when I came here, and I was ready to work.
“Whatever they threw at me, I was going to do what I had to do to get it done.”
Johnson earned his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2021. He put up career numbers that season, hauling in 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. But his production dipped last year as Pittsburgh’s offense sputtered.
The receiver ended the year without a touchdown catch despite pulling down 86 passes for 882 yards.