Steelers 2-a-days: Will Diontae Johnson score TDs? RB Jason Huntley a change-of-pace option

Editor’s note: From the end of minicamp through the day the team reports to training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2023 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between June 16 and July 26. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

RB JASON HUNTLEY

Experience: 6 NFL regular-season games in 2020-21

Contract status: $870,000 cap hit if he makes the team in 2023

2023 outlook: Huntley made big plays in college — returning five kickoffs for touchdowns over his sophomore and junior seasons, and scoring 11 touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry rushing as a senior. Even for a lower-level FBS program like New Mexico State, that was impressive — and when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, NFL teams took notice.

But perhaps in part because of his 5-foot-9 size, Huntley didn’t make the Detroit Lions as a rookie fifth-round pick in 2020. He’s been limited to only 18 touches over 62 offensive snaps in his career, averaging 3.9 yards per rush. Huntley did, at least, make plays during preseason games the past two years.

Huntley joined the Steelers via the practice squad after he was part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ final cuts at the end of last year’s preseason. Though he’s spent the entirety of time since as property of the Steelers, Huntley never was activated for a game in 2022, even after injuries to Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren forced Anthony McFarland into duty for a November game in Indianapolis.

Now that Steven Sims has moved on, the door is open for a return specialist on the Steelers. But Huntley’s lack of punt returns on his résumé makes even that a longshot — especially considering kickoffs are more marginalized now than ever. Huntley also could be seen as an “energy,” change-of-pace back to complement Harris and Warren. But he would have to out-perform McFarland and undrafted rookies Darius Hagans and Alonzo Graham before the Steelers would even consider that. Huntley’s best hope might be as practice-squad insurance.

WR DIONTAE JONSON

Experience: 5^th season

Contract status: $16.33 million cap hit in 2023, signed through 2024

2023 outlook: At this time last year, eyes were on Johnson as negotiations over a contract extension loomed. Johnson was sitting out team drills until his two-year, $36.7 million deal was agreed to midway through training camp.

Once the real games began, Johnson’s production fell from 2021. Catches dropped from 107 to 86, yards from 1,161 to 882 and rates such as catch percentage (63.3% to 58.5%) and yards per reception (10.9 to a career-worst 10.3) plummeted, too.

But all of that was overshadowed by a “historic” gaping hole in regards to touchdowns. Johnson’s 147 targets and 86 catches set dubious NFL records for the most without a score. Hilariously, the final time he caught a ball during a game last season, Johnson was standing in the end zone — but it was for a two-point conversion.

Considering Johnson had 20 touchdowns in the 45 games before last season, his TD futility can reasonably be chalked up to an anomaly, especially in light of the fact that Steelers quarterbacks managed just 11 touchdown passes all season and just four (all to George Pickens) went to a wide receiver.

Still, Johnson had better improve on his other numbers if he wants another big-money contract extension next summer. Drops continued to be an issue, but an analysis of NFL receivers by ESPN and FiveThirtyEight.com revealed Johnson is the best WR or tight end in the league at getting open.

If Johnson can show better hands and get into the end zone in 2023, he could ascend in class among the NFL’s best wide receivers.

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