After a tumultuous stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson is embracing a “fresh start” with the playoff-bound Houston Texans. The 2021 Pro Bowler, who led the Carolina Panthers in receiving before a mid-season trade to Baltimore, is leaving his controversial Ravens tenure “in the past” as he looks to revive his career and spark a deep postseason run in Houston.
“I had a good time there. I got some good teammates over there,” Johnson said of his time in Baltimore. “Those relationships are still gonna be there. I’m trying to win games and go far in the playoff.”
Texans Provide Opportunity for Redemption
Johnson joins a 9-7 Texans squad that has already clinched the AFC South title and is locked into the No. 4 seed. Houston claimed the star wideout off waivers last week after losing rookie sensation Tank Dell to a season-ending knee injury. With the Texans thin at receiver beyond Nico Collins, Johnson has an immediate opportunity to contribute.
With Diontae, adding him to our team, he’s a guy who has talent. He’s done it at a high level. He’s bounced around a little bit here. It really doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past, or what the narrative is about. You come here and everything is a fresh start.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans
Bizarre Ravens Stint Ends in Release
Johnson’s arrival in Houston follows a bizarre three-month stint in Baltimore. The Ravens acquired the receiver from Carolina in late October, but his tenure quickly turned controversial. In Week 13, the team suspended Johnson for one game after he refused to play against the Philadelphia Eagles. Then in Week 15, the Ravens excused Johnson from team activities before ultimately releasing him on Dec. 20.
Aiming to Recapture Pro Bowl Form
Now in Houston, Johnson is focused on helping the Texans pursue a Super Bowl while recapturing the form that earned him Pro Bowl honors in 2021. In 10 games with the Panthers this season, Johnson tallied 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns. He managed just one reception for six yards during his brief Ravens tenure.
Coach Ryans is giving Johnson a “clean slate” in Houston, emphasizing a team-first culture. “Everybody is about the team, I’m about the team too,” Johnson said. “So I’m doing whatever the coach is asking me to do.” If the wideout can rekindle his chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ playoff ceiling rises considerably.
A Pivotal Addition for Houston’s Title Hopes
As the Texans gear up for what they hope will be a deep postseason run, the addition of a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver like Johnson could prove pivotal. If he can put his Ravens controversy behind him and thrive in Ryans’ system, Houston’s passing attack becomes significantly more dangerous. A redemptive playoff performance from their new wideout might be just what the Texans need to emerge as a serious Super Bowl contender in the AFC.
