Johnson

By Will Graves

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers extensive receiver Diontae Johnson doesn’t imagine one forgettable sequence defines him as a participant.

Still, he is aware of he must do higher after he stood idly by throughout teammate Jaylen Warren’s first-quarter fumble final week in opposition to Cincinnati, a second that shortly went viral on social media and — much more importantly — drew the eye of coach Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers had been driving deep in Bengals territory when Johnson let a possible landing go get knocked out of his arms in the back of the tip zone, a name that Tomlin opted to not problem.

On the subsequent snap, Johnson primarily stood nonetheless whereas Warren ran in Johnson’s course, failing to dam anybody in any respect. Warren fumbled whereas being tackled and Johnson turned his again as Cincinnati cornerback DJ Turner scooped up the ball and ran towards midfield earlier than being tackled.

Tomlin instructed Johnson must do a greater job of maintaining his feelings in test, and Johnson provided an apology to his teammates on Wednesday morning.

“I didn’t know the play was still going,” Johnson mentioned. “Like I said, if I could make the play again I would tackle the ball.”

While the play finally didn’t have a serious affect in what turned a 16-10 Pittsburgh victory, it was the most recent instance of certainly one of Pittsburgh’s offensive ability gamers having bother staying engaged.

Second-year extensive receiver George Pickens wanted to be consoled after Johnson scored the go-ahead landing go in a win over Tennessee on Nov. 2. Mercurial operating again Najee Harris has struggles at instances to place into phrases his frustration with the course of the offense following losses.

Pittsburgh did handle to high 400 yards for the primary time since 2020 in opposition to the Bengals, an outburst that got here days after offensive coordinator Matt Canada was fired and changed by Eddie Faulkner.

Johnson mentioned he wasn’t taking note of the stat sheet, although for all of the progress the Steelers made in shifting the ball successfully, they nonetheless managed all of 1 landing.

It’s a truth not misplaced on Johnson, who has reached the tip zone simply as soon as in his previous 24 video games. He momentarily appeared to have his second of the season when Pickett discovered him simply earlier than the backline of the tip zone. Johnson twisted to haul within the go and obtained each ft down earlier than Turner knocked the ball free simply earlier than Johnson fell to the bottom.

Officials on the sector dominated it incomplete, and Tomlin opted to not problem due partially to how emphatically the again choose made the decision. While Johnson gestured to the referees, he additionally didn’t flip to the sideline and ask the teaching workers to take a deeper look.

Johnson mentioned he wants to come back down with the ball sooner or later. He additionally is aware of he can’t let the end result of 1 play bleed over into his effort stage on the subsequent.

“A play is going to get to you,” mentioned Johnson, who missed a month due to a hamstring harm and has 30 catches for 385 yards on the season. “But it’s up to us to keep playing and not think about the previous play.”

Johnson known as standing up in entrance of the staff and proudly owning the error “the right thing to do” and believes they perceive the sequence doesn’t outline him as a participant.

“I didn’t come up playing football like that,” Johnson mentioned. “Obviously it looks bad on film but from here on out, going forward, just need to be smart.”

Johnson’s teammates take into account it a non-issue going ahead.

“I know ‘Tae and I know he won’t let it happen again,” middle Mason Cole mentioned.

The Steelers (7-4) host struggling Arizona (2-10) on Sunday.