Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Kenny Pickett guarantees Diontae Johnson will have 'bounce back year'

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 7/21/23

Steelers WR Diontae Johnson had a historically down year in 2022 but QB Kenny Pickett believes a big season is in store for the four-year veteran.

"We're going to get him the ball. He's going to do his thing," Pickett said on the "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward" podcast. "I'm excited for him to have a big year. He's going to have a bounce back year."

.@Juiceup__3 has been in the lab this off-season year 5 loading… pic.twitter.com/BZGAFma0tg
— Not Just Football (@NotJustFootball) July 17, 2023

Following Pittsburgh's Week 18 game last season, Johnson officially owned one of the NFL's unluckiest records. With his 86 catches in 2022, he has the most catches by a player in a single season without scoring a touchdown in NFL history.

The 27-year-old passed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR James Wilder who had 85 catches without a receiving touchdown in 1984.

Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger even gave his take on how unlucky Johnson's season was.

"Blows my mind because the guy is so stinkin' good," Roethlisberger said on his "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast. "It was so apparent and obvious they were trying to get him the ball in the red zone when they were down on the goal line. He was wide open twice and the ball got tipped."

Johnson still had a solid season, playing in all 17 games and finishing with 882 receiving yards. However, many viewed it as a disappointing season following his two-year, $37 million contract extension last offseason.

Pickett finished by saying Johnson has been "putting a lot of work in" in hopes of finally finding pay dirt and proving he's worth every penny the Steelers invested in him.

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