-
Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens insist they are focused on making a playoff run and not on the recent discipline of one of their teammates.
The Ravens suspended Diontae Johnson for one game Wednesday after general manager Eric DeCosta said the veteran wide receiver refused to enter their Dec. 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. On Monday, coming off the bye, Johnson’s fellow wide receivers said they don’t have any issue with it.
“It ain’t a distraction,” receiver Zay Flowers said. “That’s not my decision to make. He’s still one of my guys. He’s one of our guys.”
Asked if Johnson would be welcomed back, Flowers chuckled.
“Yeah, he’d be welcomed back,” he said.
Johnson, who is not practicing with the team during his suspension, will miss Sunday’s game at the New York Giants.
The Ravens (8-5) are in great position to make the playoffs, but they will likely need to win the final four regular-season games to have a shot at repeating as AFC North champions. Baltimore trails the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) by two games.
When Baltimore traded a sixth-round draft pick to the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29 for Johnson and a fifth-round selection, it was supposed to be a move that helped the Ravens down the stretch. But Johnson went from being the Panthers’ leading receiver through the first seven games of the season to totaling one catch for 6 yards with Baltimore.
In four games with the Ravens, Johnson has been on the field for only 39 snaps, and his lack of opportunities could impact him when he becomes a free agent in March. Johnson suited up for the loss to the Eagles but didn’t play a snap, even though starting wide receiver Rashod Bateman left in the second half with a knee injury.
“We all understand both sides,” Bateman said. “There are consequences that come with this game. I know he’ll be back soon, and that’s all we worry about.”
The Ravens haven’t really needed Johnson since acquiring him. Baltimore has the NFL’s fifth-best passing attack this season, averaging 243.4 yards per game. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is on pace to surpass his career high in passing yards, has thrown 29 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Bateman also said the situation with Johnson won’t become a distraction for the team.
“Everybody in here are grown men, and we all know we have a task at hand individually,” Bateman said. “He knows that, too. Hopefully we’ll see him back next week.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked if there was a path for Johnson to return to the team after the suspension.
“The [organization’s] statement [following the announcement of the suspension] said that there would be no further comment on that, so we’ll just kind of leave it at that and see where it goes as time permits,” Harbaugh said.
The Ravens are currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff race and, according to ESPN Analytics, have a 97.2% chance to reach the postseason. Baltimore’s final four games are at the Giants, home against the Steelers, at the Houston Texans and home against the Cleveland Browns.
