The Houston Texans are heading to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, but they’ll do so without former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Houston waived Johnson after being on the team just under a month, proving they ignored all the warning signs Baltimore left behind.
Diontae Johnson’s stops this calendar year:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2025
🏈Pittsburgh
🏈Carolina
🏈Baltimore
🏈Houston https://t.co/PaOJPhz8WA
Playing for his fifth team in the last year, Johnson has become the NFL’s version of a revolving door. Claimed off waivers two days before the Texans’ Christmas matchup with the Ravens, Johnson played just 38 offensive snaps over two games—22 in the regular-season finale and 16 in the wild-card win over the Chargers. His final stat line? Three catches for 24 yards.
Let’s not sugarcoat this: Johnson’s baggage far outweighs his talent at this point. Baltimore saw it firsthand when he managed a single catch for six yards, a suspension for refusing to play, and enough drama to make him a locker-room nightmare. Houston thought they could handle it, but here we are.
Diontae Johnson getting cut during the playoffs speaks volumes
The Texans cutting Diontae Johnson in the middle of the playoffs says everything you need to know—they’d rather face the Chiefs shorthanded than keep him around for one more week. That level of rejection is a flashing neon sign that no team can ignore.
At 28, Johnson still has the physical tools to contribute, but his reputation as a locker room liability keeps burning bridges. Four teams in 12 months have now decided they’re better off without him. Heading into 2025 free agency, his NFL future is on life support.
For Houston, the decision to move on sends a clear message: this team doesn’t need distractions during a championship chase. Unfortunately for Johnson, that message might resonate louder than any of his career highlights ever did.
Johnson played just two games for the Texans. He logged 38 offensive snaps—22 in the Week 18 finale and 16 during their Wild Card playoff win over the Chargers—and managed only three catches for 24 yards for the Bolts. Despite Houston’s desperate need for receiver depth, Johnson couldn’t make a meaningful impact and found himself cut just short of a month after arriving.
After the Texans’ wild-card playoff win over the Chargers last Saturday, it was reported by ESPN that Diontae Johnson was visibly frustrated in the locker room. Fully dressed and sitting at his locker, he stared off in frustration, clearly upset over his lack of playing time and limited targets. Teammates approached him to offer encouragement, but Johnson’s demeanor spoke volumes about his dissatisfaction with his role—the same boring story as it was for the Ravens.
Judging by the childish tantrums he throws whenever he’s not getting the playing time he wants, Johnson seems to think he can waltz into any offense and pick up its schemes instantly. But here are the cold, hard facts: since being traded from Carolina, Johnson has managed just four receptions for 30 yards across six games. So, what are we even talking about? Yikes.