CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Diontae Johnson’s welcome dinner in Carolina got off to a surprising — and hilarious — start when the Panthers’ new wide receiver didn’t realize Dave Canales was the team’s head coach.
Johnson conceded as much to reporters last month during his first press conference with the Panthers after being traded from Pittsburgh in March. But Canales is plenty familiar with the 27-year-old Johnson, whom the Panthers are counting on to get open for second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Open receivers were as rare as snow days in Charlotte during Young’s rookie season.
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During the Panthers’ first week of OTA practices, Canales said Johnson flashed the skills he’d shown in Pittsburgh, where he was a third-round pick out of Toledo in 2019.
“I think what you see on film is kind of what I’ve been seeing in person,” Canales said. “It’s his ability to get in and out of breaks at the top. Quickness. The pace of how he does it, the setup. This is a guy that’s played a lot of football. So you can see that really show up when you get into the team type of settings.
“He’s been playing so long, he’s got really good eyes in terms of what the coverage shell might be. Where are my defenders at and where’s this route stem me to go based on what they’re doing? So you can just see the natural way he plays football.”
Johnson was the Steelers’ leading receiver in three of his five seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2021, when he notched career highs with 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight TDs.
But Johnson seemed to fall out of favor in Pittsburgh last season, marked by sideline displays of frustration over not getting the ball and a much-criticized lack of effort during a November game at Cincinnati on a play when the Bengals recovered a Steelers’ fumble.
During a conversation with The Athletic this week, Johnson discussed the public perception of him, his exit from Pittsburgh, what he can do for Young and the Panthers’ offense, and several other topics. Some answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Johnson, in his own words on …
The importance of developing timing and chemistry with Young this spring and summer:
“It’s big. They didn’t really have guys to get open last year. So me being in this offense is a big impact for him and the rest of the guys around him. So we can all learn from each other, learn from Adam (Thielen). Adam can learn from me. So those little things matter. Everybody getting on the same page, that goes a long way.”
The trade that brought him to Charlotte and sent cornerback Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh (along with a swap of draft picks):
“It’s a business. I had a great time in Pittsburgh. They took a chance on me in 2019 and I can’t thank them enough. I’m just happy to be here in Charlotte. I won’t call it a fresh start, but it’s another opportunity to do what I can, to help another program win games. So I’m gonna bring my best foot forward and my best attitude to the team, and try to do what I can to help change things around here.”
A report by the NFL’s Network Mike Garafolo that the Chiefs were interested in Johnson, but Pittsburgh didn’t want to deal him to another AFC team:
“I guess they didn’t want to trade me nowhere in the AFC. I’m here now in the NFC. It is what it is. They did what they feel they had to was best on their part. I couldn’t really do nothing about that. So I’m gonna make plays with whatever team I was on or got traded to. I’m here in Carolina, so I’m here to work.”
His attitude and whether he feels he needs to mature:
“Everybody’s gonna have their opinion about me. People are gonna say what they want to say about me. But I know what type of player I am. I know what type of attitude I bring to the table. I didn’t really pay attention to stuff like that. I can only control what I can control. What people are saying about me is their opinion. It’s just words at the end of the day. As long I keep putting my best foot forward and bringing my best attitude forward, they can’t really say anything or whatever they want about me.”
This being a prove-it season in the final year of his contract:
“All I’ve gotta do is come in here and be consistent, not try to press or anything. As long as I come in and do everything I can (to) my best ability, the chips are gonna fall where they may. If they want to extend me or whenever the time comes, God will give it to me when he feels like I’m ready.”
His motivation playing for a new team in a new city:
“It just shows I’ve got to put stuff on film and prove to these guys that I can help them turn things around here. I’ve got full faith in my ability to do that. I’m here working every day. The days I’m here, I’m putting my best foot forward and I’m just attacking the day each and every day.”
Whether he still expects to be the primary read on most passing plays after the addition of first-round pick Xavier Legette:
“Yeah, most definitely. Obviously, they drafted him to be a big part of this offense, as well. So I’m sure they’re gonna do what they do to get him the ball. But I’m just worried about doing my job and getting open and making my plays when they come my way.”
The dinner at a Charlotte steakhouse where he didn’t immediately realize the 43-year-old Canales was the Panthers’ head coach:
“I really didn’t know, to be honest. I was just trying to process the whole thing of me getting traded and what was going on with my situation. Once I got here, his energy was different. He’s a younger coach. I’ve been around Coach T (Mike Tomlin) for five years. Coach T’s serious. He’s about his business. I’m not saying coach Canales is not. But they’ve both got different personalities. So it was kind of a surprise to me when I first met him.”
Dave Canales learned yesterday Diontae Johnson didn’t realize he was the Panthers’ HC when a small group of coaches went to dinner with Johnson after he arrived in CLT.
Great response by Canales: pic.twitter.com/XPqXb6UTNn— Joe Person (@josephperson) April 24, 2024
The Panthers not getting any prime-time games following their 2-15 season in 2023:
“I’m just here to play football, whether they give us one or not. We’ve still gotta win games at the end of the day. That’s what I’m here to do — help us win games if we play at 1 o’clock every Sunday. We still play on TV. We’re just not the main focus of it. I’m not really worried about it.”
The Week 10 game against the Giants in Munich:
“We never played overseas anywhere (in Pittsburgh). It’s a different experience for me coming out of the country. I’ve never done that before, never been to Germany. So I’m looking forward to it. I’m kind of excited, to be honest.”
His early impressions of Charlotte:
“I get Atlanta vibes. It’s a nice city from what I’ve seen and been around. I’m still trying to get used to it. But for the most part it’s a nice city and it’s cool. A lot of stuff to do here.”
(Photo of Diontae Johnson: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
