The Houston Texans announced on Tuesday that they have cut veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson, and the reason they decided to make the move amid a playoff run should not come as a shock.
Johnson spent just three weeks in Houston before being waived. The Texans claimed him last month after he was cut following a very brief tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson had been suspended during his time in Baltimore for refusing to enter a game.
Apparently Johnson quickly grew unhappy with the Texans, as well. Johnson caught 1 pass for 12 yards in Houston’s 32-12 AFC Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday. According to Aaron Wilson of KRPC 2, Johnson was “visibly upset” after the game to the point where teammates had to calm him down.
Wilson said the same pattern of behavior that inspired the Ravens to move on from Johnson continued in Houston.
When Diontae Johnson, now cut by #Texans, was with #Ravens he was suspended for conduct detrimental for refusing to play. After games, if he wasn't involved to his liking, he was highly upset and had to be calmed down. Pattern continued in Houston and now he's off his third #NFL… https://t.co/wF3WnRfBvg
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 14, 2025
Wilson also noted that teammates have had positive things to say about Johnson. They view the former Pro Bowl wideout as having a friendly personality, but Johnson has gotten “extremely emotional and upset” on multiple occasions when he has not gotten the ball as much as he would like.
Johnson began the season with the Carolina Panthers, who acquired him in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. The Panthers then traded Johnson and a sixth-round draft pick to the Ravens in October for a fifth-round pick.
Johnson was a productive player for five seasons in Pittsburgh. He caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2021. His repeated disgruntled behavior could make it difficult for him to land another job, however.
