Diontae Johnson's Rollercoaster Year Ends with Texans Waiver
What a year it's been for Diontae Johnson. The once-celebrated Pro Bowl receiver has experienced quite the rollercoaster ride, punctuated by his recent release by the Houston Texans. The decision comes just before their critical divisional matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
A Short Stint in Houston
Johnson's tenure with the Texans was fleeting. After being claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on December 23, Johnson made modest contributions. He featured in just two games for Houston. In the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans, he managed to snag two passes for a total of 12 yards. During the Texans' wild-card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Johnson caught his lone target for another 12 yards. Across that game, he was on the field for 16 offensive snaps, which accounted for about 22% of the team's plays.
A Season of Trades and Waivers
Johnson has bounced around the NFL quite a bit over the last year. Before finding himself with the Texans, he spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and Ravens. Baltimore acquired him from the Panthers back in October by giving up a fifth-round draft pick while also receiving a sixth-rounder in return. However, things took a sour turn when Johnson faced suspension in Week 15 for conduct detrimental to the team. That development prefaced his eventual release.
Over the season, Johnson has been both traded twice and waived twice, a testament to the tumultuous year he's had. Despite these frequent changes, his career highlights include impressive stats: 391 receptions, over 4,363 yards, and 25 touchdowns across 77 games. His standout season came in 2021 with the Steelers, where he earned a Pro Bowl nod with 107 receptions, 1,161 yards, and eight touchdowns.
Texans Look to Fill the Void
With Johnson now off the roster, the Texans are looking to other talents to bolster their receiving corps. John Metchie III, Robert Woods, and Xavier Hutchinson are expected to step up and complement top receiver Nico Collins as Houston pushes deeper into the playoffs.
For Johnson, this latest release underscores the challenges players face in the NFL—where one's career prospects can shift as rapidly as the league's weekly power rankings. While Johnson's journey this past year has been filled with uncertainty, the hope remains that he'll find stability and continue to showcase the talent that once made him a Pro Bowl star.