Steelers Dynamic WR Diontae Johnson Forgotten By Ryan Clark In Frenzied Rant

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had Diontae Johnson on the field for much of the 2023 season so far, thanks to a nagging hamstring injury. When Johnson made his return in Week 7 of the 2023 campaign, it immediately provided a boost to a sluggish Steelers offense. Despite the obvious spark that Johnson brought to Pittsburgh's passing attack, Ryan Clark somehow managed to forget Johnson completely as a weapon for Kenny Pickett.

Steelers Johnson Not On Clark's Mind

Clark was on NFL Live on Friday and was the only member of the crew to pick the Steelers to win in their Week 8 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That didn't happen as Pittsburgh lost 20-10, but near the end of the segment, Clark was asked whether he thought that George Pickens would have more or less than 53 yards receiving. It didn't take long for Clark to start going on about the kind of talent he believes Pickens possesses.

"Over. They've [Steelers] been making a concerted effort to get George Pickens the ball, and when you give him attempts and targets, he usually finds ways to come up with the football. This dude is an immense talent, someone who we see emerging at the wide receiver position."

There is more than a bit of truth to what Clark is saying about Pickens, but that isn't what created the record scratch moment. If Clark had simply stopped there in his praise for Pickens, then this would have been nothing more than another NFL segment telling us how talented Pickens is. However, Clark went on and gave a very direct opinion on where Pickens is within the Steelers receiving hierarchy.

"And who the h*** else is Kenny Pickett gonna throw it to anyway?"

That was the moment that Clark got really fired up, but there was a big problem with his statement: Johnson. The decision to extend Johnson in August of 2022 wasn't one that was met with universal acceptance. In 2023, though, it has become apparent that Johnson brings an entirely different level to Pittsburgh's usually mediocre offense.

It isn't just the presence of Johnson that makes his value obvious; it's the struggles that the Steelers offense has encountered without him in the lineup. Pickens is certainly talented and special, but right now, there is a massive difference between the second-year receiver and Johnson.

Steelers Defense Gets Some Love From NFL Live

Among the NFL Live crew on Friday, not everyone was on the side of the Steelers, but one lone person chose Pittsburgh to get a victory over the Jaguars on Sunday. Clark, despite somehow forgetting Johnson as a weapon, saw Pittsburgh coming out on top in Week 8 of 2023. Even though Clark was the only person to see the Steelers winning, that doesn't mean that Pittsburgh's stars were ignored.

The segment opened with a graphic pointing out that when it came to handling the blitz in 2023, Trevor Lawrence ranks near the bottom of the league at 26th when pressure comes. On the other side of that sits Pittsburgh's defense, who prides themselves on getting after the quarterback at a nasty rate. Marcus Spears recognized a big reason for that and gave it a holiday twist. Spears was asked how the Jaguars are planning to deal with that pass rush, and he brought up who they should fear the most.

"They have a dude that is always Halloween on that defensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Number 90, TJ Watt."

That is certainly one way to say that TJ Watt terrifies opposing offenses. With Halloween coming up soon, it is an appropriate way to phrase it, and Watt certainly doesn't mind being considered a truly scary defender. Spears saw the game coming down to third and long; can the Steelers force it, and can the Jaguars escape from them? Pittsburgh's defense had three sacks in the loss, but the Jaguars converted six out of the 13 third downs they faced. 

How many sacks will Highsmith and Watt combine for in 2023? 

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