Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that receiver Diontae Johnson needs to do a better job of handling his emotions during games.
Tomlin’s admission came two days removed from the Steelers’ 16-10 Week 12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6). While Pittsburgh came out on top, the performance wasn’t perfect, particularly during the first quarter when running back Jaylen Warren put the ball on the ground in the red zone. Although the ball bounced near his leg, Johnson appeared to glance at it before turning the other way and walking off rather disinterested. The Bengals recovered the fumble as a result, and Pittsburgh failed to get any points on the promising drive.
“We got to take care of the ball,” Tomlin said, via ESPN. “It is our desire. It’s how we construct victory, and so Jaylen’s got to do a better job there.
“Diontae can’t let the emotions of the previous down affect his next down, but I’ll give him an opportunity to address that with you guys. I’ll give him an opportunity to address that with his teammates. I’m not going to add any additional color. I think plays like that are best described and outlined by those involved and less so by guys like me.”
Johnson did, in fact, address the play after the game.
“I just, I didn’t see it,” Johnson said. “I was just doing whatever I do at that time, blocking or whatever it is.”
Diontae Johnson comes close to scoring second touchdown of 2023 season
Johnson, who reportedly got into a heated argument with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the locker room after last Sunday’s 13-10 Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns (7-4), hauled in four receptions for 50 yards in the win over Cincinnati. He also came close to securing his second touchdown of the season on the play before Warren fumbled. Johnson’s would-be touchdown was negated after officials ruled the contested catch an incompletion despite having taken three steps in the end zone. Tomlin opted not to challenge the ruling on the field.
“They were definitive, and I lost vision of it,” Tomlin said Sunday. “It was people between me and him. I couldn’t count steps. They never gave us another look at it in-stadium. We didn’t get a quick enough look at it up top. Sometimes that happens when you’re on the road, but some games being on the road, some games being at home, all those things even out in the big scheme of things.”
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