Diontae Johnson has emerged as Steelers’ No. 1 receiver

PITTSBURGH — In the NFL world of subterfuge and downplaying things, it’s often not what a team says but how it acts that shows you its true intentions.

So while JuJu Smith-Schuster is still the most recognizable name among the Steelers' receiving corps, it’s actually Diontae Johnson who has become the team’s No. 1 wide receiver.

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Don’t believe that to be the case?

Witness:

• Despite playing just 19 snaps before leaving with a concussion midway through the second quarter in the Steelers' Week 3 win over Texans, Johnson still leads the Steelers in pass targets with 25. Smith-Shuster is second with 19.
• In that game, it was Johnson, not Smith-Schuster, who drew shadow coverage from Texans' top cornerback Bradley Roby. Even after Johnson left the game, Roby did not follow Smith-Schuster all over the field.
• And it is Johnson who is expected to draw shadow coverage again this week from the Eagles' Darius Slay when the Steelers (3-0) host Philadelphia (1-2-1) Sunday at Heinz Field.

Part of the reason for Johnson drawing that shadow coverage -- the opposing team’s top cornerback staying with him no matter where he lines up -- is because Johnson is largely used as an outside receiver, while Smith-Schuster takes the majority of his snaps out of the slot. Many teams won’t ask their top cornerback, who is accustomed to playing on the outside, to slide inside.

“He should be getting attention,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “He’s a heck of a football player with an incredible skillset. He’s deserving of the attention that he is getting.”

Read this full story at our partners, DKPittsburghSports.com.

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