The Steelers sit at 2-5. The offense has failed to produce, failing to surpass 20 points scored in regulation in any game this season. There have been public questions on play calling and scheme, reports of locker room arguments and visible frustration.
But, through it all, Diontae Johnson is focused on rising above that right now.
The Steelers' wide receiver, coming off a loss to Miami Sunday, feels like the offense could be on the verge of something, but that patience is needed.
"I can't be frustrated," Johnson said Wednesday, the first time Pittsburgh's players spoke with the media since the 16-10 loss in South Florida. "Kenny (Pickett's) still learning. Everybody's still trying to get a feel for each other. We're still trying to get the rhythm going.
"(I'm) not using that as an excuse or whatever… We're just trying to do whatever we can to turn this around. So I can't be frustrated. I got to be the example of the group and continue to lead, act nothing's wrong because, at the end of the day, stuff can go our way and you never know when the tables are going to turn. I am trying to keep a positive mindset through this whole season right now, because it's tough."
Johnson, meanwhile, has had a trying season. Given a lucrative contract extension this offseason, establishing the former thad-round pick as the team's top wideout, he has yet to post a 100-yard receiving game, and has not scored a touchdown.
"Yeah, it's tough," he admitted. "Nothing is going our way. We miss plays that we should make. We had those little moments like, ah, should've, could've done this and that. It starts with practice and the harder you work in practice, I believe it shows in the game. That's what I'm really big on, just practice and then it translates. So that's all we got to do is just continue to work."
He's also had to deal with a fluctuating quarterback situation. Mitch Trubisky got the heavy bulk of the first-team reps during the offseason, training camp, and preseason. He was removed during the fourth game of the year, but re-entered two games later when Pickett got hurt.
That seems to have played a role in holding Pittsburgh's offense back. It also appears to have led to frustrations among the pass catchers, with another wideout, Chase Claypool, saying Sunday night that he would like more 'go-balls' in the offense.
"We can just go out there and do what the coaches tell us to do at the end of the day," Johnson said. "We want to go down the field more. I believe that we're going to go down the field more this week, and hopefully the rest of the season because we got the guys that can make the plays down the field. We've just got to throw it up and give us a chance."
Johnson's lack of production isn't just on the quarterbacks. He's come up empty in a couple of key situations the season, dropping a long pass against Cleveland, having another pass bounce off his hands and intercepted, and not getting his feet down in the back of end zones for what would have been touchdowns.
"Obviously we could play better out there on those certain plays," Johnson said. "But it's football. Nobody's perfect. Stuff happens and we just got to keep playing. Stuff will fall our way eventually. Hopefully it starts this week."
The Steelers do need those breaks to come soon. They travel to Philadelphia Sunday to face one of the league's best teams in the Eagles.
Unless the Steelers, who are double-digit underdogs, can pull off a gigantic upset, they'll sit at 2-6 entering the by week.
But Johnson, at least right now, wants to lead his group, wants to fight with the offense, and is still believing that this season can flip in a positive direction.
"You got to always have confidence," he said. "Stuff may not go your way but you still got to have confidence and faith. Just try to have good energy.
"Obviously stuff's not going our way. A record isn't good right now. You can't look at the bad. You just got to focus on what matters and the things that can help us get going in the right direction."
