Including last week’s upset loss at Cleveland, Baltimore has now dropped eight games while leading with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter since the beginning of 2022, most in the league over that span. And because the Ravens’ defense has been their weakness this season, some were surprised that the team traded for another offensive player on Tuesday.
But in acquiring Diontae Johnson and a sixth-round selection from Carolina for the Ravens’ fifth-round choice, Baltimore got a receiver known for his ability to beat man coverage and also another option for Lamar Jackson. Plus, coordinator Todd Monken has more flexibility to match up at the line of scrimmage, potentially moving Zay Flowers into the slot, or playing Johnson in the role.
And to CBS insider Jonathan Jones, the move was a savvy trade made by a good team.
“That’s what good teams do, they stock up,” Jones said Tuesday. “That’s what the Ravens are doing. For them, they understand that this is going to be a 21-week season; if they are playing in the Super Bowl in New Orleans in mid-February, attrition could happen. Yeah, they like their tight ends. Yeah, they like their wide receivers. What happens when someone goes down?”
Someone went down in Houston Tuesday, when the Texans announced Stefon Diggs would miss the season with a torn ACL, and the Ravens now seem in much better shape to endure a similar injury.
Jones said they were also in better shape to acquire Johnson because the market for the veteran wide receiver was evaporating. Johnson reportedly had communication issues with Bryce Young and offensive coaches. His best game was the Panthers’ only win, Sept. 29 at Las Vegas, where he posted eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in Andy Dalton’s first 2024 start. But after that game, Jones said, the issues continued and word got out in league circles that Johnson wouldn’t last much longer in Carolina.
Interestingly last March, the Steelers reportedly spurned the Chiefs’ interest in Johnson before sending the receiver to Carolina for cornerback Donte Jackson and a pick swap with the Panthers. Johnson’s former team, Carolina, lost in Denver last week, 28-14. His new team, Baltimore (5-3), meets the Broncos (5-3) this week at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
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