The Baltimore Ravens are handing wide receiver Diontae Johnson a one-game suspension, according to reports.
The team are reportedly suspending Johnson without pay for conduct detrimental to the team, according to Mike Garafolo.
The Ravens have a bye this week, therefore Johnson will not be eligible to return until after Baltimore’s game against the New York Giants on December 15.
The team confirmed in a statement that the punishment stems from Johnson’s refusal to enter Baltimore’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
‘We have made the difficult decision to suspend Diontae Johnson for our upcoming game against the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team,’ a statement from Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta read.
The Ravens suffered a 24-19 defeat to Philadelphia Sunday to fall to 8-5 for the season and sit second in the AFC North.
The Baltimore Ravens are handing wide receiver Diontae Johnson a one-game suspension
Johnson did not play a single snap in Sunday’s defeat, last taking to the field for the Ravens on November 25 in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Following the game at the weekend, head coach John Harbaugh alluded to issues behind the scenes.
‘I’m not really ready to comment on that right now,’ Harbaugh said. ‘I will be, [but I] just don’t have enough information right now to talk about that.’
Meanwhile, quarterback Lamar Jackson issued a blunt statement on the situation, telling reporters: ‘We want him out there. He’s a great receiver. We didn’t get him from the Panthers for nothing,’
Johnson arrived in Baltimore on October 29 in a trade from the Carolina Panthers, and has since played 39 snaps in four games for the Ravens. He has caught just one pass for six yards.
The Ravens reportedly received Johnson and a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick that headed to the Panthers.
Johnson had played for the Panthers for less than a season, as he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March.
Johnson played his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the Ravens AFC North rivals.
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