Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Players to watch vs. Chiefs in Preseason Week 2
By Samuel Teets
Diontae Johnson, WR
Diontae Johnson has been dealing with injuries lately so it’s unsure when the Steelers will have him suit up. He didn’t play in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win against the Buccaneers, which gave some of the Steelers other wide receivers time to shine.
Johnson’s spot on the depth chart is up in the air. JuJu Smith-Schuster is Pittsburgh’s star at the position, but the team also has free-agent signee Donte Moncrief and 2018 second-round pick James Washington. Washington went off against the Buccaneers last week, shredding Tampa Bay’s defense.
Johnson and Washington are competing directly for snaps this coming season. The rumors are that Johnson has been winning the battle in practice. However, Washington did make four receptions on five targets for 84 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay.
Some of those plays were highlight level difficulty. The Steelers coaching staff has a better idea of how Johnson and Washington stack up against each other, but public perception is in Washington’s favor at the moment.
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Besides competing for his spot on the depth chart, playing in the preseason would be a good test for Johnson. He’s faced the same defenders over and over again in training camp, but now he has the opportunity to take on new opponents. Hopefully, he’ll return to the playing field sooner rather than later.