Ravens finalize trade for Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

 OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have bolstered their passing attack by acquiring veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers, pending a physical. In exchange, the Ravens will send a fifth-round draft pick to Carolina, which will also swap its sixth-round pick with Baltimore.

This marks the second trade for Johnson this year. He was previously acquired by the Panthers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, a rival team in the AFC North. With this trade, Johnson will become only the third player in history to catch passes for both the Ravens and the Steelers, joining Mike Wallace and Miles Boykin.

Johnson is the fourth Pro Bowl wide receiver traded this month, making him part of a notable group that also includes DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs), Amari Cooper (Bills), and Davante Adams (Jets). Additionally, he is the first receiver since Ashley Lelie in 2006 to be traded twice within the same calendar year.

Despite indicating a desire to re-sign with the Panthers after the season, Johnson's frustration grew as the team struggled, currently holding a 1-7 record. He missed Carolina's recent game against the Denver Broncos due to a rib injury, leading to speculation about whether this decision was influenced by trade considerations.

With Johnson now in the mix, the Ravens can enhance their offensive strategy alongside Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Baltimore has utilized three or more wide receivers in only 163 plays this season, ranking second-fewest in the NFL.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is enjoying a standout season, ranking fifth in the league with 2,099 passing yards. His impressive 9.7 yards per attempt when targeting receivers ranks him third behind Sam Darnold and Jared Goff. Johnson's ability to make catches along the sideline could be particularly beneficial, as the Ravens' wide receivers have recorded just 29 receptions on passes thrown outside the numbers this season—the third lowest in the league. Johnson, since entering the NFL in 2019, has accumulated 242 catches on such passes, placing him sixth overall.

General manager Eric DeCosta has been proactive in enhancing the roster during the season, marking this as his fourth in-season trade in six years. Past trades include cornerback Marcus Peters in 2019, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, and linebacker Roquan Smith in 2022.

In March, the Panthers traded cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick to the Steelers for Johnson and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 draft. Although Johnson was brought in to support quarterback Bryce Young, he and Young struggled to connect early in the season, resulting in Young's benching. Johnson had a brief resurgence with Andy Dalton, catching eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown in Dalton's first start.

As Johnson departs, the Panthers will rely on veteran Adam Thielen, rookie Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore, and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker to fill the void in their receiving corps.

HOUSTON — In a separate development, Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season, according to coach DeMeco Ryans. The loss is significant; Diggs was a key contributor, ranking seventh in the NFL with 47 catches and second on the team with 496 receiving yards this season.

“This is a tough blow for us,” Ryans stated. “He has been an essential part of our team, both on and off the field, bringing energy and leadership every day.”

Diggs suffered the injury during a non-contact play in a recent victory over the Indianapolis Colts. He was able to walk off the field but did not return to the game, finishing with five receptions for 81 yards.

The Texans acquired Diggs in the offseason via a trade with the Buffalo Bills, sending a 2025 second-round pick in exchange. His presence greatly benefited quarterback C.J. Stroud, who had a passer rating of 104 when targeting him.

With Diggs sidelined, the Texans will be without both him and fellow wide receiver Nico Collins, who is on injured reserve. In their absence, players like Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and John Metchie III will need to step up.

Dell has seen increased action but has not matched his impressive rookie performance from last season. “Once you lose a star player, everyone needs to step up,” Dell remarked. “We all know we can do more.”

As the Texans prepare to face the New York Jets on Thursday night, they will lean on their rushing attack, led by running back Joe Mixon, who averages over 100 rushing yards per game. This strategy aims to alleviate pressure on the passing game, which has faced challenges due to Stroud's high pressure rate.

Diggs is set to become a free agent after the season. Following the trade, the Texans restructured his contract, securing him $22.52 million in guaranteed money for this year.