Diontae Johnson details rift with Ben Roethlisberger during rookie season

Diontae Johnson recently recounted an incident during his rookie year with the Pittsburgh Steelers that led Ben Roethlisberger to stop speaking to him for two months. The issue began during a practice session after Johnson failed to recognize a signal from the quarterback and dropped a pass. Following the mistake, Roethlisberger removed Johnson from the drill and ceased throwing his way for the remainder of the session. Johnson sought guidance from head coach Mike Tomlin, who advised the receiver to focus on building chemistry with backup quarterback Mason Rudolph instead. The silent treatment eventually ended as Johnson began making consistent plays on the field, leading to a five-season tenure in Pittsburgh. Over his career with the Steelers, Johnson recorded 391 receptions for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns.

• 7:33 PMYahoo Sports — Diontae Johnson Drops New Details on the Ben Roethlisberger Incident That Led to 2 Months of Silence