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Diontae Johnson has reportedly landed on his third team of the 2024 NFL season after being claimed on waivers by the Houston Texans.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Houston was awarded the veteran wide receiver on waivers on Monday. That is all the more notable because wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a significant knee injury during Saturday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Johnson was waived by the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 20 after the two sides mutually agreed earlier in the week to excuse him from team activities.
The move came after the veteran wide receiver was suspended by the club for Baltimore’s Week 15 game against the New York Giants for refusing to enter the previous game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.
Baltimore acquired Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick from the Carolina Panthers for a 2025 fifth-round pick on Oct. 29. He was brought in to add another dimension to a Ravens receiving corps that already featured Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
Things didn’t go as planned for the Ravens. Johnson caught one pass for six yards and played a total of 40 snaps (39 offensive) in four games before being waived.
Johnson began this season with the Panthers when he was acquired in an offseason trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wasn’t exactly an impact player in Carolina, but fared better in seven games with them by recording 31 catches for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Given some of the issues with Johnson in the past, even before his refusal to enter a game in Baltimore, this is a high-risk move for the Texans. It comes at a low financial cost because he will become a free agent after this season.
Houston also needs more depth at wide receiver, as both Dell and Stefon Diggs are out for the rest of the season with injuries. This is a team that already clinched the AFC South and will be hosting a playoff game, but it needs more high-impact playmakers on offense to realistically make a run in the postseason.
Johnson at least provides depth and someone who can take advantages of the openings created by playing alongside Nico Collins.
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