The Baltimore Ravens have suspended wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team, the organization announced on Wednesday.
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta explained the decision, stating, “Diontae’s suspension is a result of his refusal to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles.” DeCosta added that while the suspension was a difficult decision, it was necessary to maintain team discipline. Johnson will miss the Ravens’ game on December 15 against the New York Giants, as the team is currently on a bye week.
The suspension follows an unusual situation during the Ravens’ 24-19 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. Johnson, who had suited up for the game, did not see a single snap despite the absence of starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman in the second half due to a knee injury. Johnson was seen standing on the sidelines near a heater for much of the game, raising questions about his status with the team. The team had been vague about Johnson’s involvement before the game, and the decision to keep him on the sideline, even with Bateman injured, left fans and analysts puzzled.
Since joining the Ravens on October 29, Johnson has had limited playing time, logging only 39 snaps. He has caught just one pass for six yards. This lack of involvement contrasts sharply with his role on the Carolina Panthers, where he had been the team’s top receiver before the trade. Johnson led the Panthers with 30 receptions, 357 yards, and three touchdowns in the first seven games of the season.
This lack of production could have significant ramifications for Johnson, who will be a free agent this offseason. His reduced role with the Ravens has created uncertainty about his future with the team. When asked about Johnson’s status on Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was noncommittal, leaving open the possibility that the wide receiver may not stay in Baltimore beyond this season.
The Ravens acquired Johnson in late October, sending a fifth-round draft pick and a sixth-round selection to the Panthers in exchange for the receiver. The trade was considered low-risk for the Ravens, as Carolina covered most of Johnson’s remaining salary, leaving Baltimore to pay about $625,000 for the rest of the season. However, the trade’s limited cost in assets has not yet translated into production on the field, and Johnson’s future with the team remains uncertain.
If the Ravens decide to part ways with Johnson, they would not receive a compensatory pick in the 2026 draft if he signs with another team in free agency, adding another layer of consideration to his future with the franchise.
Despite Johnson’s struggles in Baltimore, the team’s passing game has been effective this season, ranking third in the NFL with an average of 243.3 yards per game. The Ravens’ top three wide receivers—Zay Flowers, Bateman, and Nelson Agholor—have been integral to the offense, with Flowers emerging as a standout rookie.
Following the loss to the Eagles, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson spoke about his conversations with Johnson, urging him to stay focused despite his lack of playing time. “We want him out there,” Jackson said. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.”
Before his trade to the Ravens, Johnson was a key player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, having been drafted by the team in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Over his career, he has caught 422 passes for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns, showing his potential as a top-level receiver. However, his time in Baltimore has been marked by inconsistency, and with the team’s top receiving options already in place, it remains to be seen whether Johnson will have a role moving forward.
As the Ravens navigate their bye week and prepare for the Giants, the suspension of Diontae Johnson is a reminder of the importance of maintaining team cohesion and discipline, even when it involves difficult decisions. How Johnson will be utilized, or if he will remain with the team beyond this season, is something that will likely unfold as the Ravens continue their playoff push.
