The Pittsburgh Steelers have endured some challenges on the injury front in 2023, which they hoped to avoid after the 2022 TJ Watt injury. Watt missed seven games in 2022, during which the Steelers went a disappointing 1-6. In 2023, showing shades of the Watt situation, Cameron Heyward went down with a groin injury during the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. As much as losing Heyward has hurt the team, the player they are ecstatic to get back on offense is the pristine route-runner, Diontae Johnson, who also went down in Week 1 (hamstring).
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson worked at perfecting his route running during the 2023 offseason.
Steelers' Diontae Johnson Considered "The Silent Assassin"
Johnson joined Heyward on the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward podcast on Wednesday to talk about a wide variety of topics, but they took a moment to talk about Johnson's role on the team as both a leader and a vocal teammate.
According to Heyward, Johnson has never really been a talker. The fact that Johnson was even on the podcast with Heyward was surprising enough, with Pittsburgh's defensive lineman saying that getting him to open up as much as he did was impressive.
"Tae [Diontae], you pretty quiet as it is, like, we're really lucky to get you talking right now because Tae, you are the silent assassin."
Johnson didn't deny that he was someone who had stayed on the quieter side during his career, but he also said it was something he was actively working on. The speedy receiver told Heyward that 2023 was different and that he was trying to be more open and vocal as a teammate. From the look on his face, it seemed to be a point of pride that he was working on the talking portion of being a professional football player.
It isn't just about how he is perceived, though. Johnson wants to be a true leader within the Pittsburgh locker room, and considering that he caught passes from Ben Roethlisberger, he's seen what Hall of Fame leadership looks like.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Diontae Johnson had an excellent bond up until Roethlisberger's retirement following the 2021 season.
Steelers' Johnson Aiming To Be More Of A Leader In 2023
Johnson is known around the NFL as one of the best route-runners in the league, but wanting to be the best means never accepting where you are and always wanting to improve. For Johnson, that means turning his focus to off-the-field aspects of his game, and that meant the way he acted as a teammate.
Being injured, especially one that keeps you out for multiple weeks, gives players a chance to think through some things rather than just rushing through the fast pace of NFL life. During his rehab, Johnson has obviously thought a great deal about the impact he wants to make once he returns from injury and going forward. It isn't enough to be an excellent receiver. He needs to be someone who can lift others around him and allow his example to be a leadership tool.
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Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson is eager to get back on the field after an injury took the start of 2023 away from him.
None of that is possible, though, without first learning to become vocal. Not everyone comes to that naturally; Johnson is one of those people who prefers to let his play do the talking. However, Johnson understands the importance of growing as a veteran player by imparting what he has learned to the younger receivers on the team.
Heyward asked Johnson what was different about 2023 that allowed him to shift into that role as a vocal person within the Steelers locker room.
"I'm more comfortable. Just me being around the building, I feel like I can just be myself and not kinda be closed off to everybody like I used to be. But I feel like me doing that allows me to be more of a leader for my room, and get to know the guys better, like, talking to teammates I don't talk to on the regular. Just speaking to 'em, like small talk, like little stuff like that, you know, that goes a long way. 'Cause at the same time, we all out there on the field with each other, so why not get to know them... know what I'm saying? End of the day, that's your brother, so you wanna fight alongside them, so that's what I'm gonna do."
That is a massive step for a player to make, especially one who is naturally a more introverted person. With Johnson poised to return from his injury for the 2023 Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Rams, it could be the perfect time to see what this new, vocal Johnson is like on the field.
What kind of game will Johnson have against the Rams in Week 7? Comment below!
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