The Baltimore Ravens announced the waiver of wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who had been acquired from the Carolina Panthers prior to the trade deadline. Johnson's tenure with the Ravens was brief and marked by limited playing time, during which he managed to catch only one pass for six yards over the course of four games.

Johnson's situation escalated when he refused to enter the game during a home matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, where starting receiver Rashod Bateman suffered a knee injury and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest. This refusal did not sit well with the Ravens' coaching staff, leading to Johnson's suspension for the following game against the New York Giants, which the Ravens won 35-14.

The Ravens had acquired Johnson along with a sixth-round draft pick from the Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round pick on October 29. At the time, the move appeared to be a strategic benefit for Baltimore, positioning Johnson as a potential third wide receiver behind Zay Flowers and Bateman. However, Johnson only saw 39 offensive snaps in total, with a high of 17 snaps recorded in a game against the Denver Broncos. With the Ravens now facing a critical matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the absence of Johnson, along with other injuries within the receiving corps—including Nelson Agholor who is out with a concussion and Bateman, who is questionable—places the team in a precarious position as they seek to secure a playoff berth.