Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson to Miss Team Activities After Refusing to Enter Game
The Baltimore Ravens have announced that wide receiver Diontae Johnson will be excused from team activities this week, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” This decision comes after Johnson refused to enter the team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 1.
Johnson was initially suspended for one game, but he will now also miss the preparations for the Ravens’ upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh declined to comment on the specifics of the situation, stating that there are “front office type reasons” for the decision.
The Ravens acquired Johnson from the Carolina Panthers in October, but he has struggled to make an impact with his new team, managing just one catch for six yards. The team is currently tied with the Steelers for first place in the AFC North, and a win against Pittsburgh would give the Ravens a crucial advantage in the division.
The suspension of Johnson comes as the NFL continues to deal with a number of player misconduct issues. On Thursday, the San Francisco 49ers suspended linebacker De’Vondre Campbell for three games after he refused to enter the team’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Ravens’ decision to excuse Johnson from team activities is a significant blow to the team’s offense, which has struggled to find consistency this season. With Johnson out, the team will likely turn to other receivers, including Sammy Watkins and Rashod Bateman, to try and spark the offense.
