Diontae Johnsons first TD in 655 days lifts Steelers: Its been that long?

June 06, 2024

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson was scrolling social media as he prepared for Thursday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans when he came across an unexpected (and somewhat unpleasant) stat: 655.

That’s how many days had passed since Johnson last scored a touchdown — a span so long that Ben Roethlisberger was the quarterback and the Steelers were in the AFC playoffs against the Chiefs when the drought began.

“I was like, really?” Johnson said. “It’s been that long?”

Well, really, it goes back even further than that. Counting only regular-season games, it had been 668 days since Johnson scored on Jan. 3, 2022 against the Cleveland Browns. Those numbers almost defy logic for a former Pro Bowl receiver and elite route runner, who set a record (if you can call it that) last season by catching 86 passes without a single touchdown.

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In front of a national television audience on “Thursday Night Football,” Johnson picked an opportune time to snap the skid.

The Steelers trailed by three points with just over four minutes remaining when Johnson got free on a rub route and reeled a 3-yard score. The touchdown capped another Kenny Pickett fourth-quarter touchdown drive, as the Steelers once again surged ahead late in a low-scoring, defensive struggle to beat the Titans, 20-16.

.@Juiceup__3 TUDDIE 🧃

📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/T87FSnfvVk pic.twitter.com/4AxVz3X5JJ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 3, 2023

“It’s been too long, for sure,” Pickett said. “To see that smile on his face after that was great. I’m sure it felt like the world was off his back. Now, he can go and relax and play and continue to be the guy that he is for us.”

Johnson’s celebration said it all. It wasn’t so much elation as it was relief. The quick-twitch receiver spread his arms aloft and looked to the heavens. Then he spiked the ball emphatically for good measure. Teammates poured off the bench to celebrate what would be the game-winning touchdown.

“I actually didn’t know what I was going to do when I scored,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I was just trying to show love, because everybody put in a lot of work.”

Diontae Johnson on his celebration: pic.twitter.com/ShLGifRo2p

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) November 3, 2023

Johnson finished the day with a team-high seven receptions for 90 yards, including a 32-yard gain on the same drive — converting a third-and-6 — to help set the stage for the score. His performance was especially critical on a night in which Pickett played through a rib injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game and that the QB missed several open targets.

It was also especially necessary on an uncharacteristically quiet night from George Pickens, who caught just two passes for minus-1 yard on five targets, with one incompletion appearing to be a sure touchdown until he failed to get a second foot inbounds. Pittsburgh’s second-leading receiver was running back Jaylen Warren with three grabs for 25 yards.

“(The scoreless streak) is not a weight that he totes into each stadium,” coach Mike Tomlin said of Johnson. “He just wants to be a significant component of what we do and why we’re successful. Today he was.”

The thing about Johnson is that sometimes his value goes underappreciated until he’s gone. After the veteran went down with a hamstring injury in Week 1, Pickens faced almost nonstop double-teams and the offense ground to a half without a dynamic route runner to open up the underneath routes.

Johnson’s return in Week 7 against the Rams began to reinvigorate the offense, as he racked up six catches for 79 yards. He followed it with an eight-catch, 85-yard performance Sunday against the Jaguars.

But still no touchdown.

There were times during the drought that frustration mounted and self-doubt crept in. After numerous games last year, he was disgruntled and acknowledged at the end of the season, it was eating at him.

“Maybe next year might be my year to get in the end zone,” he said after the final game of the 2022 season, only half joking. “I can just focus on me and do the right thing. Continue to lead a group. They look up to me or whatnot. I can’t be worried about just me getting in the end zone.”

In this way, the drought presented a learning opportunity for the 27-year-old receiver. After dealing with drops as a rookie, he overcame that to become a Pro Bowler in his third season, catching 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021.

Unexpectedly knocked out of the conversation as a top receiver, he showed growth as a player and a person in ways big and small. He began focusing on the process instead of the touchdown numbers.

“Just being myself and not pressing each and every week,” Johnson said. “Just let the ball find me. Just keep getting open, and that’s what happened.”

In numerous instances during his injury absence, when other receivers got frustrated by the stagnant offense and limited targets, Johnson put his arm around them to provide a word of guidance.

“Obviously, it’s been seasons since he had got in,” second-year receiver Calvin Austin III said. “But he didn’t let that affect him, how he works, how he approaches it and just being a team guy. Seeing that, it just shows maturity and him as a leader.”

As the season continues, the Steelers will be counting on Johnson to be the catalyst on the field and a steadying force off. The subtle adjustments they made Thursday — moving offensive coordinator Matt Canada to the sideline, running out of different formations and starting first-round pick Broderick Jones at right tackle — allowed the struggling offense to move the ball better than it has all season. But Johnson’s ability to get open, and to find the end zone at the most critical moment, was the difference in the final score.

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“He’s a top-tier receiver,” Austin said. “It’s good to see him get back in the end zone. Hopefully this can continue on from here. I’m sure in his career, he will never go that long without one again.”

(Photo of Diontae Johnson, 18, hugging Kenny Pickett: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)

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