Diontae Johnson entered 2024 looking to prove his worth ahead of free agency. His season has not gone according to plan, to say the least, and it now might be over.
Johnson was released by the Texans on Tuesday, just four days before Houston is set to face the reigning champion Chiefs in what will have to be an all-hands-on-deck game with C.J. Stroud and co. decisive underdogs.
After starting his season with the Panthers and spending a brief stretch with the Ravens, Johnson was hoping the Texans would give him the chance to rebuild his value after injuries to Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs left Houston’s offense shorthanded.
Here’s what you need to know about the Texans’ decision to cut Johnson loose.
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Why did the Texans cut Diontae Johnson?
The Texans announced Tuesday that they waived Johnson, but the reason wasn’t immediately clear.
Johnson’s attitude could be among the reasons for the Texans’ decision, as KPRC 2 Houston’s Chancellor Johnson reported the receiver was “a bit dejected” in the locker room after the team’s wild-card win over the Chargers on Saturday.
Regarding Diontae Johnson— postgame in the locker room he seemed a bit dejected.
A couple of Texans captains came by for what seemed like encouragement at his locker.
Days later, the Texans waived him.
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) January 14, 2025
Despite the victory, Johnson only played 16 percent of snaps and had one catch for 12 yards. He hauled in two passes in his Houston debut in Week 18, struggling to jump any of the Texans’ top four receivers on the depth chart even with Dell and Diggs down.
Johnson was disgruntled during his stint with the Ravens, earning a suspension for refusing to enter a game and ultimately getting waived by Baltimore. The Texans were Johnson’s fourth team in the span of a calendar year, dating back to his time with the Steelers.
With Johnson already playing a small role in the offense, the Texans decided he wasn’t worth the headache before the biggest game of the team’s season.
How many teams has Diontae Johnson played for?
Johnson has the distinction of playing for four teams in one calendar year. He finished the 2023 season with the Steelers by playing games in January 2024, and his second stop came when Pittsburgh traded him to Carolina in the offseason.
Johnson posted 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games with the Panthers and was traded to the Ravens ahead of the deadline, only to record just one catch in Baltimore and earn his way out after a standoff with the franchise.
The Texans, desperately seeking help at the wide receiver position after Dell’s season-ending injury, claimed Johnson on Dec. 23, but he played a limited role in two games. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, Johnson will now hit free agency for the first time.
MORE: Inside Diontae Johnson’s career timeline
Texans WR depth chart
| WR | Player |
| 1 | Nico Collins |
| 2 | Robert Woods |
| 3 | John Metchie III |
| 4 | Xavier Hutchinson |
Nico Collins remains the focal point of the Texans’ passing game, but Houston is still searching for answers with Dell and Diggs out.
Robert Woods and John Metchie III both played slightly more than half of all offensive snaps in Saturday’s win over the Chargers, combining for only 50 yards on 12 targets. Xavier Hutchinson, meanwhile, had a 34-yard grab against L.A., but it came on his only target as Collins and Metchie were the recipient of nearly half of C.J. Stroud’s targets.
The Texans clearly didn’t see Johnson as the solution, as he played the fewest snaps of any active wide receiver on the roster.
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