The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped an ugly 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. At least one player in the Steelers locker room pointed fingers at the officiating rather than shouldering the blame. Diontae Johnson has been oft-injured throughout 2023 but remains the top playmaker on the team. Johnson took issue with the zebras on Sunday.
What Did Diontae Johnson Say About the Officiating?
Following the Steelers’ loss on Sunday, their alpha receiver wasn’t ready to look in the mirror. Johnson had plenty to say about the officials on Sunday.
“They cost us the game. They wanted them to win; everything was in their favor. They were getting every little call.”
“They cost us the game. They wanted them to win, everything was in their favor. They were getting every little call.”
Interesting postgame comments about the refs from Steelers WR Diontae Johnson 👀
pic.twitter.com/SF3rn3BWPH— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ)
The Steelers receiver played well but made a couple of characteristic drops, as Johnson is one of the most drop-plagued receivers in the NFL. Johnson ended the game with eight receptions for 85 yards.
MORE: Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart
The field was soggy, which contributed to some of the sloppy play, but the Steelers were also turnover-prone, and QB Kenny Pickett never got it going.
How Will the Steelers Fix Their Offensive Woes?
Hold your ears, Steelers fans. Some of the offensive inefficiencies may not be fixable. It feels like a distant memory when QB Kenny Pickett and the Steelers’ offense lit up the NFL preseason. It’s almost as if we shouldn’t place any credence in preseason performances, but I digress.
Pickett missed a wide-open Johnson for what would have been a TD, but Pickett threw the ball wide of his target. Johnson visibly showed his frustration following the play. Further complicating the matter, Pickett left the game with an injury to his ribs, and backup QB Mitch Trubisky isn’t the answer for what ails the Steelers’ offense.
The offense lacks explosiveness. Johnson is a route runner best suited in the intermediate. George Pickens is a vertical playmaker down the field, but his big-play ability is few and far between. Pat Freiermuth has been in and out all season with injuries. Najee Harris is a plodding, physical back incapable of breakaway speed out of the backfield.
The Steelers need more speed and explosiveness on offense, and they won’t find those abilities on their current depth chart. The 2024 offseason will be an interesting one for the Steel City.
Social Media Had a Ball With Johnson’s Comments
The NFL doesn’t take too kindly to players calling out officials and regularly fines anyone across the league who takes shots at the zebras. Our social media analysts quickly pointed out that Johnson is highly likely to receive a phone call from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Diontae Johnson is subject to fines or suspension per league policy for saying what everyone thought today and calling out the referee’s.
— Adam Steel (@RenegadeAdam)
Some admitted there would be an incoming fine but defended the Steelers receiver for his remarks, admitting the game was officiated sloppily.
Diontae Johnson's going to get fined for his criticism of the officiating today, but maybe it needed to be said.
Game was sloppily officiated from the start. A terrible day for a crew who made a number of contradictory, impactful and incorrect decisions. #Steelers
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32)
Then some called out the Steelers receiver for inconsistent play, not just in this game but throughout the last two seasons. Johnson has been held out of the endzone without a receiving touchdown for the last two seasons, and social media reminded the Steelers’ top receiver of that fact.
the refs were also paid to keep Diontae Johnson out of the end zone for the last two calebdar years https://t.co/o6TqQoY1A7
— Med (@god_hates_jags)
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