Ravens fans do a double take over Giants' Dyontae Johnson-related injury update
By Matt Sidney
The Diontae Johnson saga has already left Baltimore Ravens fans scratching their heads all season. What was supposed to be a trade-deadline boost to the offense has spiraled into one of the weirdest storylines in recent team history.
After refusing to enter the Week 13 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson earned himself a one-game suspension, leaving Flock Nation wondering if the wide receiver’s time in Baltimore is already over.
The Ravens, who are on their bye this week, face the New York Giants in Week 14, and Johnson will not be making the trip. The suspension, announced by GM Eric DeCosta, capped off weeks of confusion and frustration surrounding Johnson’s role, or lack thereof, in the offense. For a player brought in to provide a spark for Lamar Jackson and a struggling passing attack, this has been nothing short of a disaster.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s absence comes as the Ravens’ wide receiver room deals with injuries to Rashod Bateman and continued inconsistency from the rest of the group. The team desperately needs answers, but the saga surrounding Johnson has only raised more questions. This week, though, Ravens fans found themselves momentarily distracted by some surprising news from the Giants.
Dyontae Johnson’s name has Ravens fans wondering if they missed something big
The Giants announced linebacker Dyontae Johnson was designated to return from injured reserve. The timing and the eerily similar name had some Ravens fans doing a double-take. Could the Giants’ Johnson somehow have been mistaken for Baltimore’s suspended receiver? No, of course not, but it's an odd coincidence in an already strange season for the Ravens.
Dyontae Johnson, a second-year linebacker for the Giants, hasn’t played in a regular-season game but impressed during training camp before suffering an ankle injury in the preseason. His return is well-timed for the Giants, who have been dealing with defensive injuries to stars like Dexter Lawrence and Azeez Ojulari.
For Ravens fans, though, the update on Dyontae Johnson’s recovery feels like salt in the wound. While the Giants look to reintegrate a promising young player, the Ravens are left dealing with a wide receiver whose tenure has become a distraction. As Baltimore prepares to face the Giants, the contrast between these two Johnsons couldn’t be clearer.
One is working to get on the field; the other refuses to take it.
Baltimore still has playoff aspirations, but the Diontae Johnson drama remains a frustrating subplot. For now, the team will need to focus on their other options in the receiving corps while fans continue to wonder what could have been.