Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh only added to the mystery surrounding Diontae Johnson when discussing the wide receiver’s absence in Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The wideout, who joined the team in a mid-season trade with the Carolina Panthers, didn’t play a single snap despite being active for the clash at M&T Bank Stadium. Since joining the Ravens, Johnson has barely touched the field come gameday.
The 28-year-old was most involved in his Ravens debut, playing 30 percent of the available offensive snaps in the Week 9 win over the Denver Broncos. Entering the Eagles matchup, Johnson had one catch for six yards on five targets in four appearances for Baltimore.
Harbaugh only offered a vague response when asked about Johnson’s situation on Monday. “At this time, I’m going to have to wait just to clarify it,” the Ravens head coach told reporters.
There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.”
Pressed on Johnson’s future, Harbaugh added, “We’ll just work it out [and] see where we’re at over the next few days this week.”
Harbaugh didn’t deploy Johnson even after Rashod Bateman suffered a knee injury that forced the Ravens wideout out of the game in the third quarter. The one-time Pro Bowler left Carolina as the team’s leading receiver with 357 yards and three touchdowns on 30 catches.
The Panthers reportedly received only a fifth-round pick from the Ravens in exchange for Johnson and a sixth-rounder – while also agreeing to pay most of the departing receiver’s salary. At the time, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones said that NFL circles were shocked by how little Carolina got in the deal.
