Ravens head coach John Harbaugh declined Sunday to provide an explanation for why wide receiver Diontae Johnson did not play any role in Baltimore’s loss to the Eagles despite being dressed and active.
On Monday, the answer remained a mystery. When asked to clarify Johnson’s status, Harbaugh said this:
“At this point I have to wait, just to clarify,” Harbaugh said. “There are some moving parts that we have to figure out and explore and see where we are.
“I know this isn’t the answer you want. But it’s the best I can do at this point in all honesty to everyone.”
Harbaugh declined to confirm when asked if he expected Johnson to remain on the roster after Baltimore’s Week 14 bye.
“We’ll just figure it out and see where we are in the next few days and this week,” Harbaugh said.
None of that sounds good for Johnson.
The Ravens traded for Johnson from the Carolina Panthers in October. Johnson was Carolina’s leading receiver at the time with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.
Johnson has started five games, including one start, since joining the Ravens before Week 9. He has been targeted five times and has one catch for six yards. He didn’t see the field on Sunday.
It adds up to a bizarre stretch for Johnson, a former Pro Bowler with the Steelers who caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns with Pittsburgh in 2021.
There is certainly room in Baltimore behind leading curators Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Nelson Agholor is Baltimore’s No. 3 wide receiver with just 13 catches for 205 yards in 13 games. But for reasons undisclosed in Baltimore, Johnson is not gaining traction.
The Ravens acquired Johnson for a late-round pick swap (a fifth for a sixth). The acquisition cost was low and the Ravens could release him without significant loss if they chose to do so. But for now, Harbaugh is keeping things in his own hands about what’s going on with Johnson and how the team might move forward.
