It turns out that the Steelers will have their top pass catcher for Week 18’s game against Baltimore after all. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson has been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor (Twitter link).
[Related: Steelers Place Diontae Johnson, Kendrick Green On Reserve/COVID-19 List]
Johnson was placed on the list on Thursday, a move that very much put in doubt his availability for Sunday’s game. Under the NFL’s new COVID-19 protocols, however, players can ‘test out’ in as little as one day, just as Johnson has in this case. It’s a very positive development for Pittsburgh, as the 25-year old has had a career year in 2021 (100 catches, 1110 yards, eight touchdowns). He was arguably the Steelers’ best player in their first game against the Ravens back in Week 13, posting eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
There has been no such activation news for rookie center Kendrick Green, who was also placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday, or cornerback Joe Haden, who was added on Wednesday.
The path to the postseason is narrow for Pittsburgh – besides a win on Sunday, they also need a major upset from the Jaguars over the Colts. If Week 18 is to be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s final game in the NFL, he will at least head into it with a full complement of receiving threats.