Ravens’ John Harbaugh is vague about the future of WR Diontae Johnson

Ravens’ John Harbaugh is vague about the future of WR Diontae Johnson

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was vague about the future of recently signed Diontae Johnson, a day after the wide receiver didn’t play a snap in Sunday’s 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Right now I have to wait to sort it out,” Harbaugh said Monday. “There are some moving parts that we need to figure out and explore and just see where we are. I know that’s not the answer you want, but it’s the best I can do right now out of fairness to everyone.”

In four games with the Ravens, Johnson has one catch for six yards. He appeared on Sunday but did not play, even after starter Rashod Bateman left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.

Harbaugh was noncommittal about whether Johnson will remain with the team.

“We’ll just sort it out (and) see where we are in the next few days this week,” said Harbaugh, whose team is on a bye this week.

Johnson, 28, led the Carolina Panthers in receptions (30) and receiving yards (357) and touchdown catches (three) through the first seven games before being dealt to Baltimore on October 29. The Ravens sent a fifth-round pick to Carolina for Johnson and a sixth-round selection. It was considered a low-risk move because the Panthers received the majority of Johnson’s remaining salary and Baltimore had to pay about $625,000.

In Johnson’s first game with the Ravens on November 7, he caught his only pass for Baltimore while playing five snaps. In his next three games, Johnson was targeted three times with no receptions while participating in 17 total snaps.

After Sunday’s game, quarterback Lamar Jackson said he had spoken to Johnson about staying in the game even after the ban.

“We want him out there,” Jackson said. “He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing.”

A third-round pick by the Steelers in 2019, Johnson totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina and Baltimore.

Jackson’s top receivers are Zay Flowers, Bateman and Nelson Agholor. Harbaugh said Bateman’s knee injury was not a long-term injury.

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