The Houston Texans waived Diontae Johnson on Tuesday, marking another chapter in the troubled receiver’s career. Johnson, who was previously released by the Ravens earlier this season after declining to enter a game, managed to appear in only two contests with the Texans.
In Houston’s wild-card playoff victory over the Chargers, Johnson recorded a single reception for 12 yards. Post-game reports from ESPN indicated that he expressed visible frustration in the locker room, although he received encouragement from teammates like running back Joe Mixon and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans previously stated that the team was not concerned about Johnson’s past when they signed him in late December. However, on Tuesday, he refrained from elaborating on the reasons behind the decision to part ways with Johnson as the team shifted focus to their upcoming divisional-round match against the Chiefs.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and we’re on to the Chiefs,” Ryans remarked.
The Texans had signed Johnson after Tank Dell was placed on the injured list due to a season-ending knee injury on December 21. Johnson concluded the regular season with two receptions for 12 yards in a win against the Titans, where many starters saw limited action.
This was the fourth team for Johnson in a single year. He was traded from the Steelers to the Panthers last March following a mixed tenure in Pittsburgh. Johnson had a standout Pro Bowl season in 2021, amassing 1,161 receiving yards, but faced criticism for a lack of effort after a fumble in 2023 and a confrontation with teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick.
