It’s difficult to imagine Mike Tomlin, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, being more complimentary of Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. Earlier this week, Tomlin has called the two-time MVP Mr. Jackson in several press conferences. However, Tomlin seemed to take the former Steelers wide out as an afterthought when asked if he would also be facing wide receiver Diontae Johnson in Week 11. Mike Tomlin replied with a slight smirk, “To be honest with you, I hadn’t thought much about it.” Since he doesn’t appear in many of their videos, I’m not sure if I’ve considered his potential impact on the contest at this point in the week.
“At this time of the week, I’m focused on more important pieces with bigger roles.” In exchange for a fifth-round pick the following spring, the Ravens purchased Johnson and a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Carolina Panthers on October 29. He was dealt to Carolina by the Steelers around seven and a half months prior to that transaction.
On November 17, the Steelers will host the Ravens.
Mike Tomlin of the Steelers Leaves Out Diontae Johnson Press Conference in the early hours of Tuesday
It wasn’t until a reporter finally brought up the subject of Johnson currently playing for the Ravens during Tomlin’s weekly press conference. That isn’t all that shocking, save from the fact that Tomlin named a couple guys that switched sides in the Steelers-Ravens game that will take place on November 17 before he even had a question from the media. Tomlin selected Jeremiah Moon and linebacker Patrick Queen for the Steelers. He called out Chris Wormley and Arthur Maulet for the Ravens.
Wormley’s history with the Steelers-Ravens rivalry is noteworthy. In March 2020, Baltimore traded him to Pittsburgh. Wormley then re-signed with Baltimore this past offseason after spending three seasons with the Steelers and another with the Panthers.
Wormley, a defensive lineman with depth, has made one appearance this season, though. Maulet is also a journeyman in the NFL, having started eight games with the Steelers between 2021 and 2022. He only started three of his seventeen games since joining the Ravens prior to the 2023 campaign.
Maulet has only made three appearances this season. Johnson, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver, has at least 680 receiving yards in each of his five prior NFL seasons. In the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, he was selected by the Steelers.
It’s somewhat startling. Tomlin would recall that on Sunday he must play Wormley and Maulet, but not Johnson.
Johnson’s Influence on the Ravens Over Two Games
Tomlin’s omission and subsequent lack of flattering remarks for Johnson were perceived by some social media users as disrespectful to the recipient. On the other hand, it’s easy to see how Tomlin might have forgotten that Johnson would be out for Week 11 against Baltimore. Since joining the Ravens, Johnson has caught one pass for six yards in two games. He has only participated in 22 offensive snaps and one special teams snap.
Making an impression right away as a receiver in a new offence is challenging. But Mike Williams did that with little difficulty. In his Pittsburgh debut, Williams scored the game-winning touchdown for the Steelers. In Week 10, Johnson’s most noteworthy play occurred when he fell on one of his two targets.Johnson is hardly the most crucial guy on the Steelers defence to slow down or halt the Ravens offence, but Tomlin was correct. It’s just unexpected that he said that fact aloud.
It will be intriguing to observe whether Tomlin’s remarks at his press conference inspire Johnson in any way. His former coach doesn’t seem very worried about how he might perform in Week 11.