Steelers' Diontae Johnson explains 'heated exchange' with Mitchell Trubisky

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson addressed the reported "heated exchange" he had with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky during the Week 4 loss to the New York Jets. 

"We’re both passionate about the game," Johnson explained Wednesday, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Stuff happens during football. We’re fine, we talked about it. We made up, better over the whole situation. No hard feelings towards each other. That’s still my guy at the end of the day. I’m gonna still keep playing for him, cheering for him. Whatever it is that he needs me to do to help him look good out there, I’m gonna do it. 

"Like I said, there’s no bad blood between us at all. It’s just us being football players at times and we’re not gonna let that stop us from achieving the goal that everybody is trying to achieve around here." 

It was reported Monday that a locker room confrontation involving Johnson and Trubisky back on Oct. 2 had a part in head coach Mike Tomlin benching the veteran signal-caller in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett. Tomlin neither confirmed nor denied the story on Tuesday. He later insisted that Pickett will remain atop his depth chart when his 2-4 Steelers play at the 3-3 Miami Dolphins if the first-year pro is cleared to face a live defense Sunday night. 

Pickett went down with a concussion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday and was replaced by Trubisky, who helped Pittsburgh earn a 20-18 victory.