Diontae Johnson wants to put 'frustrating' injuries behind him as Steelers prep for Ravens

The NFL season isn’t even half over for the Pittsburgh Steelers, yet wide receiver Diontae Johnson soon will need a second hand to count the number of injuries he has suffered this year.

It started in training camp with a lower leg injury. A concussion in Week 3 knocked him from the game before halftime. A back injury sent him off the field just six snaps into his return in Week 5, and he missed the following week as well.

Johnson returned from that injury against Tennessee only to tweak an ankle late in the Steelers’ sixth consecutive win. Johnson remained on the ground for a moment with four minutes left in the Steelers’ 27-24 win before being helped to the sideline.

Not exactly the way Johnson wanted to build on a rookie year in which he led Steelers receivers with 59 catches and five touchdowns while earning second-team All-Pro recognition as a punt returner.

“It’s frustrating,” Johnson said. “It’s part of the game. You have to know how to handle it. You can’t let it beat you down.”

When he’s remained healthy, Johnson has proven to be one of the Steelers top receivers. He had 14 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown over the first two weeks while becoming Ben Roethlisberger’s most heavily targeted receiver.

After essentially a three-game absence, Johnson picked up where he left off against the Titans with nine catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns.

“It felt good to get back out there with my brothers and have a game like that coming back from injury,” he said. “I’m looking forward to keeping it going.”

Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner hopes Johnson’s injury problems are behind him. Johnson’s presence gives the Steelers four viable receivers for opponents to defend.

“Diontae is as talented a player as we’ve had here,” he said. “He’s very skillful and, obviously, you know how exciting and electric he is when he has the ball in his hand. We’ve seen that in punt returns, we’ve seen that in open grass, catch-and-run situations. You’ve also seen it when he’s asked to be used as a runner.

“I think, again, durability and availability is always going to be the key.”

Johnson sat out practice Wednesday in what has become commonplace as he heals his injuries, but he was a full participant Thursday. He is expected to play Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens when first place is on the line in the AFC North.

“I feel like I’m on track,” Johnson said. “Injuries are part of the game. I was happy to be back (against Tennessee). I’m trying to look forward to this week, to be honest, playing against a great defense.”