The Baltimore Ravens have been considering Diontae Johnson’s future for weeks after he refused to attend the team’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, it took two and a half weeks before they actually cut Johnson.

So why did it take so long? According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens feared that the early release would send Johnson back to the Steelers and they could play him in Saturday’s contest against them. So instead they waited until Friday to circumcise him so he could get waivers by Monday at 4 p.m

“The timing is of course interesting. Because if they had released him a day earlier, maybe his old team, the Steelers, would have claimed him and then let him play against the Ravens. They wanted to make sure that didn’t happen,” Rapoport said.

After the Steelers’ loss to the Ravens, head coach Mike Tomlin said he wouldn’t discourage any potential interest in Johnson.

“I have nothing to add about anyone who isn’t on our football team right now,” Tomlin said.

Johnson refused to participate in the Ravens’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles after Rashod Bateman suffered an injury. He was apparently upset that the Ravens wouldn’t give him many snaps during a contract year.

He was traded from the Carolina Panthers shortly before the trade deadline. The Steelers traded Johnson to the Panthers in March.

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