The Baltimore Ravens announced Monday that wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been excused from team activities in the aftermath of his one-game suspension. The decision follows Johnson’s refusal to enter the Ravens’ Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which ended in a 24-19 loss.
In a brief statement posted to social media, the Ravens confirmed Johnson’s absence:
“We have mutually agreed with Diontae Johnson to excuse him from team activities this week,” the statement read, reported by ESPN.
Head coach John Harbaugh addressed the situation during his Monday press conference, maintaining a focus on the team’s preparation for their upcoming matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“All I’m really thinking about right now is Pittsburgh and getting our team ready for Pittsburgh,” Harbaugh said, per The Athletic. “He won’t be here this week, and next week will take care of itself.”
Johnson’s situation has escalated quickly over the last two weeks. The wide receiver was suspended for Sunday’s victory over the New York Giants due to what the team labeled “conduct detrimental to the team.” That decision came after the team confirmed Johnson’s refusal to participate in the Dec. 1 game against Philadelphia.
In the Dec. 4 announcement, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta explained the reasoning behind the suspension:
“We have made the difficult decision to suspend Diontae Johnson for our upcoming game against the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team,” DeCosta said. “Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Johnson’s absence from that game initially led to questions regarding his role with the team. Harbaugh declined to comment on Johnson’s long-term status during a Dec. 2 press conference, saying only:
“We’ll just work it out and see where we’re at over the next few days and this week.”
Johnson joined Baltimore in October following a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers. At the time, he was Carolina’s leading receiver with 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games. However, his impact in Baltimore has been minimal. Johnson has appeared in five games for the Ravens, starting just one. He’s been targeted five times and has a single catch for 6 yards.
With Johnson now excused from team activities and no clear resolution in sight, his future with the Ravens remains uncertain. The Ravens, who are pushing for playoff positioning, will move forward without him for at least this Saturday’s crucial divisional game against the Steelers.