Diontae Johnson's approach to Steelers' camp 'not disrupting the team,' says Cam Heyward

A wide receiver not participating in training camp is nothing new for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2005, Hines Ward famously held out for 15 days while awaiting a new contract. The Steelers refused to negotiate until he reported to camp. Ward did, and the Steelers signed him to an extension.

In 2012, Mike Wallace held out, prompting the Steelers to pull back their five-year, $42.5 million contract offer and give it to Antonio Brown.

Fast forward to this summer. Diontae Johnson is present at Saint Vincent. He is catching passes from staff members. He is attending meetings and staying after practice to put in extra work with teammates. He’s just not participating in actual practices — when quarterbacks are throwing passes in individual drills or when the Steelers move into team periods.

“Everybody has got their own situation and handles it differently,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said. “It’s not disrupting the team, it’s not disrupting us.”

By reporting to camp and taking part in portions of workouts, Johnson is avoiding any fines that come with a holdout. He’s also following in the footsteps of outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who set precedent last year with his “hold-in” during which he didn’t partake in team activities. Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick applied the same approach this spring in minicamp but received a contract extension later in June.

At the start of camp, coach Mike Tomlin said it was his preference to have Johnson a full practice participant — to no avail so far.

“I see exactly where he is coming from,” Heyward said, referring to Johnson. “T.J. went through a situation. I remember before I got there that guys were talking about when Hines was holding out. They finally got Hines here, and that was a big thing.”

Johnson is among several receivers from the 2019 draft class trying to cash in on the explosion of riches provided to pass catchers in recent years. On Thursday, the Seattle Seahawks gave D.K. Metcalf a three-year deal worth $72 million that included a $30 million signing bonus and $58.2 million in guarantees.

Metcalf was selected with the final pick of the second round. Two picks later, the Steelers selected Johnson with the No. 66 overall selection.

Metcalf’s numbers, however, exceed Johnson’s productions. He has 216 catches for 3,170 yards — a 14.7 average per reception — and 29 touchdowns in three seasons. Johnson has caught 254 passes for 2,764 yards — a 10.9 average — and 21 scores.

Earlier in the summer, the Washington Commanders rewarded Terry McLaurin, drafted No. 76 overall in 2019, with a three-year, $71 million deal that included a $28 million signing bonus and $34.65 guaranteed. In three seasons, McLaurin has caught 222 passes for 3,090 yards — a 13.9 average — and 16 touchdowns.

Another member of the 2019 third-round receiving class is Miles Boykin, who was taken by the Baltimore Ravens 29 picks after the Steelers selected Johnson. After three unremarkable seasons with the Ravens, Boykin was cut in mid-April, and the Steelers were awarded him on a waiver claim.

Boykin hasn’t seen Johnson’s “hold-in” affect other areas of his preparation during training camp.

“Diontae is a great role model,” Boykin said. “He’s in the meetings and everything else, he’s talking to us, he’s pushing us (by saying), ‘Here’s what you can do better.’ As far as I’m concerned, he’s done a great job.”

Metcalf also was a “hold-in” at Seahawks camp until he got his contract. Other players joining Johnson with that approach to camp are 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel and Chargers safety Derwin James. Samuel also is a product of the 2019 draft class.

Heyward, the longest tenured Steelers player and a seven-time team captain, isn’t concerned that more players seeking to have their contracts renegotiated might take the “hold-in” approach to training camp in the future.

“No, we are here to do a job,” he said. “Mike T always says one man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune. This gives us a chance for other guys to get some reps — George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Chase Claypool. They shouldn’t run from it. Diontae will be ready by Week 1, but I don’t think he’s going to harm the team in any way.”

Neither does Tomlin, who saw Johnson assume a bigger leadership role in his third season when he produced 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs.

“Diontae is not a big talker, he’s more of a doer and I can appreciate that and I’m aligned with that,” he said. “He’s going to provide quality examples about how to go to work and that is going to aid guys like Pickens in the maturation process because he has visual examples of what he needs to do and how he needs to do it.”