PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Never before in his career did Steelers receiver Dionate Johnson do what he did on Sunday. Now he wants to continue that going into Saturday night against the Raiders.
The 26-year-old caught 10 passes on 10 targets, he’s never had a perfect catch percentage on double-digit attempts before Sunday. Half of those were for first downs in finishing with 98 yards receiving in the win over Carolina.
“Them getting me in the right spots and believing I can get open,” Johnson said. “It was just getting in that rhythm. You see what I can do when I get in a rhythm. Just keep being consistent, just get ready for this week and hopefully carry that over for this week as well.”
Much was expected of Johnson after going through a hold-in before getting a new two-year contract for $36.7 million. It was something below market-value, but when he started the season under a 60% catch percentage in three of the first five games. The critics were vocal. There were reports of he and then starting QB Mitch Trubisky getting into a verbal altercation during the Jets game where he caught only two passes for 11 yards. The next games after New York he would have games of only 28, 42, 35, 63, 21 and 49 yards.
You could tell his frustration and probably not admitting to pressing. Yet he kept with the extra reps before and after practice. He catches passes while he stretches. Now over the last three games-21 receptions for 240 yards with different quarterbacks.
“It shows I got to keep working,” Johnson said. “It shows what I can do when I have the ball in my hands. I got to give it to Mitch for trusting me and leading us.”
The same quarterback he allegedly had it out with in Week Four is the same guy that threw his way 10 times in Charlotte. Again, many on money downs.
“I was going to Dionate,” Trubisky said. “He was winning. One, he went on like a five step little short post. Then he went on a on a hitch versus man. I was just going to him in those situations. He did a great job. Trusted me on those timing throws and getting open. That was huge for us.”.
“I can play anywhere,” Johnson said. “It’s just being able to be put in the right spots. They were putting me on the inside more against safeties and linebackers. It allows me to show what other skills I can bring to the table. I was winning those matchups. I want to continue to show I can win inside and outside.”
He’s moved up to 13th in the NFL with 77 receptions and needs 255 yards in the final three games to reach one-thousand yards for the second consecutive season. There is one area that does really stick out. Of those 77 receptions, ZERO are for touchdowns.
“I was just out there playing,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t worried about the stats. I’m just trying to help my team win. I’m still trying to get in the end zone. It’s bigger than me, it’s not all about me, it’s about us. Hopefully I get in the end zone this week.”