Is Diontae Johnson playing today? Texans WR's status revealed for Christmas game vs. Ravens

The Houston Texans recently claimed Diontae Johnson off waivers following his time with the Baltimore Ravens. Johnson had a nightmarish spell in Baltimore, and he was deemed expendable before the start of the playoffs.

Fittingly, his first game back might be against the team that waived him. Let's examine Johnson's availability ahead of the Texans' Week 17 clash.

Is Diontae Johnson playing today?

There's a decent chance that Diontae Johnson will play against his old side in today's game. The veteran wide receiver isn't carrying any injury into the Christmas Day game, and coach DeMeco Ryans could call upon him to make his debut.

The Texans picked up Johnson after key wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16. The former Carolina Panthers pass catcher will be asked to provide an instant boost to a Super Bowl-chasing franchise.

While Johnson is good to go, the same can't be said for some of his new teammates. Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi is out because of an ankle injury, guard Shaq Mason is out due to a knee issue and versatile offensive lineman Juice Scruggs will miss the game because of a foot injury.

How is Diontae Johnson performing this season?

Diontae Johnson has had a challenging 2024 season. The veteran wide receiver started as the Carolina Panthers' WR1 for Bryce Young but injuries have caused him to fall down the depth chart.

The Carolina Panthers eventually traded Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens for draft compensation. The move was widely lauded across the league, as it was believed that Johnson and Zay Flowers would provide a potent one-two punch for Lamar Jackson. However, the opposite was true, as Johnson only lasted four games in Baltimore.

Johnson has amassed a stat line of 31 catches, 363 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. He will now look to add to that total by playing a complementary role in his new team's playoff aspirations.

The Texans enter Week 17 with a 9-6 record. They're up against Lamar Jackson and Co., and they'll need to be defensively resolute in a matchup with one of the most complete teams in the National Football League.