Texans’ DeMeco Ryans Explains Release of Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson

Diontae Johnson (82) of the Houston Texans tackles Derwin James Jr. (3) of the Los Angeles Chargers after an interception that was later overturned in the third quarter during the AFC Wild Card Playoffs at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 11, 2025. Tim Warner/Getty Images

Diontae Johnson sticking with one NFL team remains elusive as the Houston Texans released him on Tuesday, and head coach DeMeco Ryans had a simple explanation for Johnson’s latest transition.

“With Diontae, unfortunately it didn’t work out, and we’re on to the Chiefs,” Ryans said during Tuesday’s press conference.

Johnson lasted two games with the Texans (11–7), his third team this season and fourth in one calendar year. He played 12 snaps in the Texans’ 32–12 Wild Card game win over the Los Angeles Chargers (11–7) in Houston on Jan. 11.

Johnson began 2024 on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster where he had 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in five seasons before the Steelers traded him to the Carolina Panthers in March. With the Panthers, he had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games before the Baltimore Ravens traded for him before the November deadline.

Johnson didn’t last long in Baltimore amid one catch for six yards in four games, but his one-game suspension from refusing to enter a Week 13 game ultimately led to his waiver before Week 18. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta called it “conduct detrimental to the team” in a Dec. 4 statement.

The Texans picked up Johnson on Dec. 23 after a knee injury to wide receiver Tank Dell, and Johnson contributed three catches for 24 yards in his two games with the team. A Pro Bowler with a 1,000-yard season in 2021, Johnson will need to find a new home for 2025 after four teams parted ways with him. He may not command a huge salary in light of 2024, but Spotrac projects him for $9.3 million annually, and he has $42.7 million in career earnings. Pittsburgh drafted Johnson with a third-round pick out of Toledo in 2019 where he became a regular starter.

Houston still needs help at wide receiver with both Dell and Stefon Diggs (ACL tear) on injured reserve, but that may have to wait. Ryans previously liked what he saw in Johnson.

“With Diontae, I was really impressed with this last week of practice,” Ryan told reporters on Jan. 7. “I thought he picked up on the things we were asking him to do.”

“I thought he had some really nice catches, really nice plays throughout practice and he got in the game,” Ryan added. “We were able to get him a little involved in the game as well. I thought he handled himself really well. We will start to continue to feed him more to see how he can help us.”

“The skillset, the talent is there it is just a matter of him integrating into our offense and making sure we put him in positions to where we can accentuate his talents because he is a talented player,” Ryan added. “He has made a ton of plays in this league, and it is exciting to see what he has been able to do on the practice field.”

With Johnson gone, the Texans haven’t made a new signing before the AFC Divisional Round game on Saturday against the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs (15–2). In addition, the Texans also took a hit in the passing game with an injury to tight end Cade Stover, who will go on injured reserve, the team announced on Tuesday. Stover had been productive with 15 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in 15 games. The Texans selected Stover from Ohio State in the fourth round of the 2024 draft.

Houston now has two roster spots open with a playoff road game around the corner. Whether or not the Texans will fill those voids with pass catchers remains to be seen.

That said, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud started off strong in the playoffs without strong production from Johnson or Stover. Stroud went 22–33 passing for 282 yards with a touchdown and interception, and he rushed for 42 yards on six carries. Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had a strong game along the way with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Chargers.