Steelers receiver affected person, however beginning to present early indicators of frustration with Kenny Pickett
The Pittsburgh Steelers have added some new faces to the workforce this season, and vast receiver Diontae Johnson is beginning to present indicators of frustration.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a tough begin this season, sitting at 3-6 and tied for lifeless final with the Cleveland Browns within the AFC North standings. Some new faces have been added to the workforce since final season, significantly rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, which has been a troublesome adjustment for vast receiver Diontae Johnson.
Johnson has been with Pittsburgh since 2019, and although he’s being affected person with Pickett, he’s beginning to present indicators of frustration. In a press conference, he mentioned Pickett and the shortage of alternative he’s needed to make performs.
“I gotta perceive the state of affairs I’m on this yr. Simply gotta work with what I gotta work with,” Johnson mentioned. “The coaches can’t throw the ball to me…I simply gotta maintain enjoying and maintain getting Kenny higher.”
In comparison with his stats final season, his disappointment is comprehensible. Nevertheless, he additionally mentioned that he simply has to work with what he can and proceed to be affected person because the rookie develops they usually get accustomed to working collectively.
Johnson had an unbelievable season final yr with 107 receptions over 1,161 yards for a mean of 10.9 yards per reception over 16 video games. This season, he’s not on monitor to coming near that. Over 9 video games, he’s had 47 receptions over 435 yards for a mean of 9.3 yards per reception. It’s evident that his efficiency has been impacted, however he’s doing what he can amidst the modifications.
Sadly, there’s been a giant gap left within the quarterback spot the place veteran Ben Roethlisberger performed for therefore lengthy, and Johnson has made it identified he’s annoyed.
Diontae Johnson has expressed frustration in new Steelers quarterbacks
Although his feedback about Pickett weren’t all too unhealthy, he made it identified how he felt about Mitch Trubisky earlier within the season. Trubisky was Pittsburgh’s important starter for the primary 4 weeks of the season, and Johnson verbally confronted him throughout halftime in Week 4. Coach Mike Tomlin then put Pickett in for the remainder of the sport and has made him the primary starter.
He’s a bit extra reserved when talking about Pickett, presumably studying from his earlier errors. Pickett actually exhibits potential, however he has loads of work to do. He’s model new to the NFL, so it’s potential Johnson is extra affected person with him for that cause.
Trubisky, however, has been within the NFL since 2017, however his stats don’t present consistency.
Johnson’s personal rookie season wasn’t unhealthy, but it surely wasn’t almost as explosive as his 2021 season after he had a little bit of time to get accustomed to the NFL and to Pittsburgh. Pickett appears to be in the identical boat, the place he’s not enjoying horribly however he’s actually not at his fullest potential.
No matter how Pickett might progress sooner or later, it’s clear that he’s not in a position to play the identical as he was with Roethlisberger in the meanwhile, and he’s rightfully annoyed about that.
