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Diontae Johnson Claimed by Ravens After Texans Exit; Not Eligible for NFL Playoffs

Jan 15, 2025
INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) leaves the football field after the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers on November 25, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 25: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) leaves the football field after the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers on November 25, 2024, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Having already mastered the art of accumulating compensatory picks in the NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens found a new way to potentially add an extra selection next year.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Ravens claimed Diontae Johnson off waivers from the Houston Texans to potentially give the team a comp pick in 2026.

Schefter noted Johnson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, is ineligible to play for the Ravens in the playoffs. This marks the fourth different time Johnson has changed teams this season and his second stint in Baltimore.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Tuesday that Johnson was being waived while the team is in the midst of preparing to play the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday.

"Unfortunately, with Diontae it didn't work out," Ryans said Tuesday. "We're on to the Chiefs."

Johnson started this season with the Carolina Panthers after being acquired in a March 2024 trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was traded to the Ravens, along with a 2025 sixth-round draft pick, for a 2025 fifth-round pick in October.

After appearing in four games with the Ravens, Johnson was waived on Dec. 20. He was claimed by the Texans three days later. It seemed like his role would increase after Tank Dell suffered a dislocated knee and torn ACL in Houston's Christmas Day loss to the Ravens.

Johnson wound up playing a total of 38 snaps between Week 18 and the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He caught three passes for 24 yards in those two games with the Texans.

Since the NFL implemented the comp pick system in 1994, the Ravens' 56 picks awarded are the most in the league. There are a total of 32 compensatory picks given out annually, with teams eligible to receive them if they have more qualified free agents lost than gained in a particular year.

The picks are awarded between Rounds 3 and 7, with the league using a formula that includes a player's average annual salary, snap count and postseason awards to determine where the pick falls.

Comp picks have been expanded to include teams that have had minority coaches or executives hired as head coaches or general managers by other teams. Those picks are also included at the end of third round.

Given how far Johnson's stock has fallen this season, any comp pick the Ravens end up receiving will likely be closer to the end of the 2026 draft than the middle. But every pick has value, especially for an organization as smart as the Ravens have been for decades.

Lamar Jackson: 'I Was Terrible' with Gloves in Practice; Won't Wear in Ravens-Bills

Jan 15, 2025
BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball during an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws the ball during an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

According to the Weather Channel, the low temperature in Buffalo, New York, on Sunday will be seven degrees fahrenheit.

But don't expect Lamar Jackson to wear gloves when his Baltimore Ravens come to town to face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round showdown.

"I tried it in practice," he told reporters. "I was terrible."

It's hard to argue with any approach Jackson takes this season. After all, he could be well on his way to a second straight and third overall MVP after completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 915 yards and four scores on the ground as a runner.

It is a regular-season award, but Josh Allen may be the only one standing in the way of that MVP.

He is also the one standing in the way of a second consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game for the Ravens.

The two teams faced each other in Week 4 with Baltimore steamrolling its way to a 35-10 victory. That was a home game for the Ravens, but the Bills had no answer for Derrick Henry (199 rushing yards and two touchdowns) even as Jackson threw for two scores.

If the Jackson and Henry combination is that dominant again, it won't matter if the quarterback is wearing gloves to shield himself from the cold.

Ravens, AFC North HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2024: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 7

Jan 15, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Ravens' 28-14 AFC Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers took centerstage during the latest edition of Hard Knocks: In Season With The AFC North on Tuesday.

Hard Knocks showcased both teams beforehand.

In Baltimore, ESPN legend Chris Berman paid a visit to a Ravens practice and showed respect to quarterback Lamar Jackson, specifically his ability to throw in the cold and wind. He also said that something special was happening in town.

In Pittsburgh, Hard Knocks captured Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in a team meeting beforehand, using the analogy "trains on a track" to describe the physical one-on-one matchups that were about to take place. He showed images of Ravens and Steelers players on the same slides, repeating the "trains on a track" refrain time and again.

It didn't go well for Pittsburgh.

The Ravens entered this game as big favorites, and the chalk came to fruition. Baltimore jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead and kept Pittsburgh at arm's length from there. The Ravens rushed for 299 combined yards, with Derrick Henry (181) leading the way alongside his two touchdowns.

Henry was a freight train, and he notably rolled for a 44-yard touchdown in the third quarter for a 27-7 edge. Some credit goes to Jackson as well.

Jackson threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards.

One of those touchdowns—a five-yard toss to running back Justice Hill with two seconds left in the first half after evading the Pittsburgh defense—had Ravens head coach John Harbaugh saying "unbelievable" repeatedly.

Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, clearly wants more though. One fan also complimented his leadership skills and voice.

Overall, it was a good day for the Ravens and their fans, who enjoyed this episode.

https://twitter.com/HerpCurbstreet/status/1879379319396655261

As for Pittsburgh, the Steelers lost their fifth straight game to close the season. Pittsburgh's promising season began with a 10-3 mark and a two-game edge on the Ravens for the AFC North lead, but the Steelers closed the regular season 0-4 while Baltimore went 4-0 to finish 12-5. The two split the regular season series with the rubber match in Baltimore.

The Ravens now move onto Buffalo to play the AFC East champion Bills on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Baltimore beat Buffalo 35-10 at home on Sept. 29.

Bills HC: Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen is 'What Everybody's Been Waiting For'

Jan 12, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills meet following an NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills meet following an NFL football game at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills trounced the Denver Broncos in the wild-card round on Sunday, setting up an exciting matchup between two MVP candidates in Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Ahead of the divisional round game, Bills coach Sean McDermott called the matchup between Allen and Jackson something that "everybody's been waiting for," per GoLongTD.com's Tyler Dunne.

Allen had high praise for Jackson when asked about the contest.

"They got after us earlier this year, so we've got a lot of film to watch," he said. "It's a great team, it's a great quarterback, obviously, with Lamar, what he's able to do. He's one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic quarterback in the league. He's so fun to watch, but I'll be watching their defense this week. That's our focus."

Despite the Bills and Ravens being perennial contenders since Allen and Jackson entered the league in 2018, the two star quarterbacks have only faced off in the playoffs one time. Buffalo beat Baltimore in 2020 in the divisional round before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

Since that meeting, Allen and Jackson have only improved their respective games.

Allen threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions this year while adding 531 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground to help the Bills finish 13-4. Jackson has had a career season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions to go with his 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

On Saturday, Jackson led the Ravens past the Pittsburgh Steelers behind 175 passing yards, two touchdowns and 81 rushing yards. Allen had 272 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Bills' 31-7 win over Denver on Sunday.

As good as Buffalo was this season, it was no match for Baltimore in September when the Ravens won 35-10. Allen and the Bills will look to learn from their mistakes in the matchup and produce a different outcome this time around.

While Allen and Jackson have both had tremendous success over the course of their careers, both are still chasing their first Super Bowl. One of the MVP favorites will get a step closer to winning a championship next week in the divisional round.

Derrick Henry Posts 'Cars' Photo After Lamar Jackson's Viral Video After Ravens' Win

Jan 12, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.  (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson compared running back Derrick Henry to the main character of the Cars franchise, Lightning McQueen, after his 44-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter of Saturday's 28-14 Wild Card Round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"You know when Lightning McQueen is just flying, flashing past, and it's like whoosh, whoosh?" Jackson told reporters after the win. "That's how Derrick looked. He was running past, and all those guys just, it looked like a movie bro, I'm not going to lie to you. I'd rather be watching it than being on the opposite side of the ball, I know that."

Henry apparently appreciated the reference, posting the following on social media Sunday:

Henry was indeed cruising on Saturday, rushing 26 times for 186 yards and two scores. He and Jackson diced the Steelers to shreds on the ground, as the quarterback rushed for 81 yards to go along with 175 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air.

"My dad's proud. Jack Harbaugh's proud right now. He likes to pound the rock," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the win. "Derrick was running hard, physical. Lamar started it off. Lamar carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two."

Jackson said Henry's big performance made his life a whole lot easier against a tough Pittsburgh defense.

"I can just hand the ball off—10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards and I'm just chilling," he said. "When they're attacking him and I go, I'm fresh. Just making my job a lot easier. We just piggy-back off of each other."

When Baltimore is running the ball well, they are tough to beat, and currently are one of the biggest potential threats to the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Since a Week 14 bye, the Ravens have won five straight games, with three of those victories over playoff teams (the Steelers twice and the Houston Texans).

In Henry and Jackson, the Ravens have one of the most dynamic duos in football. Whether they can drive them all the way to the Caesars Superdome and this year's Super Bowl remains to be seen.

Stanley: Lamar Jackson Fun to Watch but 'Gazelle' Derrick Henry 'Might Take the Cake'

Jan 12, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Derrick Henry #22 during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.  (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Derrick Henry #22 during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Ravens surely envisioned nights like Saturday when they signed Derrick Henry in the offseason.

Henry and Lamar Jackson combined for 267 rushing yards while leading the Ravens to a dominant 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Round. Henry steamrolled his way through the rival defenders with 186 yards and two scores on the ground by himself with one of the touchdowns going for 44 yards to halt Pittsburgh's temporary momentum in the third quarter.

"I thought it was fun watching Lamar run, but watching Derrick Henry run for a touchdown, I think that might take the cake," Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley told reporters in the aftermath. "Maybe because he's like 6-foot-5 running like a gazelle."

ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted Baltimore's 299 rushing yards set a new franchise record and represented the most yards on the ground in a postseason game since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers ran for 323.

It was clear from the start which team was going to control the line of scrimmage, and the Ravens even ran on all 13 plays during an 85-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.

The only hole in Jackson's resume coming into the season was his playoff performance, as he started his postseason career with a 2-4 record as a starter and six touchdown passes to six interceptions.

So Baltimore responded by adding an elite running back and putting defenses in positions where they would have to pick their poison as they attempted to stop the combination.

That offense looked to be in its final form in the most important moment of its season to this point during the win over the Steelers, and the offensive line surely wasn't going to complain about all the run blocking for two of the NFL's best.

Just ask Stanley.

Roquan Smith Trolls Patrick Queen: Ex-Raven Will 'Be in Cabo' After Steelers' Loss

Jan 12, 2025

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is still friends with Patrick Queen, but that didn't stop him from lobbing some trash talk in Queen's direction after Baltimore's 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

Ahead of a Week 16 meeting with his old team, Queen downplayed having any added motivation about playing the Ravens, for whom he played his first four seasons. Instead, he said his focus was on winning the AFC North and having "a chance to get T-shirts and hats."

That quote didn't escape Smith.

"I think I remember my guy PQ saying the last time we played them was (for) a hat and T-shirt," the three-time All-Pro told reporters. "But, I guess he (got) the T-shirt he got on, and he'll be in Cabo, or somewhere."

While the Steelers didn't finish ahead of the Ravens in the division, they were handed an opportunity to end Baltimore's season in the AFC Wild Card Round.

Vengeance was surely on Queen's mind to some degree considering he said in November he "wasn't wanted back" by his old team, which led him to sign with Pittsburgh in the offseason.

Instead, Queen watched the Ravens jump out to a 21-0 halftime lead. The Steelers had no answer for Derrick Henry, who ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.

Queen lamented how the defense "got too comfortable" and "let off the pedal."

Whether he ultimately takes a vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, or not, the 25-year-old will have a long time to ruminate on Pittsburgh's five-game losing streak to wrap up the 2024 campaign.

Lamar Jackson Says Injury 'Nothing to Worry About' After Getting Kneed in the Back

Jan 12, 2025
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 27: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on October 27, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 27: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens attempts a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on October 27, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said his back is "good" after his team's 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Round.

The two-time MVP told reporters after the game he was kneed in the back on a run and wore a heat pack on the sidelines to help with the pain. However, he said the minor injury "really didn't affect me at all" and is "nothing to worry about."

Jackson has not missed a game since he sat out the finale of the 2023 regular season, although he reportedly dealt with multiple injuries during the 2024 regular season.

The Ravens quarterback started sitting out practices with knee and back issues ahead of Week 9, which marked his first missed sessions of the regular season.

Jackson said at the time that he was sitting out in order to rest, but was again listed on mid-week injury reports with a knee issue heading into Weeks 10 and 11.

Those issues did not stop Jackson from recording another dominant campaign while helping the Ravens clinch the AFC North.

During the regular season, Jackson completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 4,172 yards, recording 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions while pacing the NFL with a 119.6 quarterback rating.

Jackson has previously dealt with injury issues in part due to the risk presented by his talents as a dual-threat quarterback. He missed a total of 10 games over the 2021 and 2022 seasons prior to last year's MVP campaign.

The Ravens have historically struggled with Jackson on the sideline, going 4-9 and averaging fewer than 17 points per game without their star quarterback.

If Jackson is forced to miss time, the Ravens will likely lean away from their passing game given that veteran backup quarterback Josh Johnson last started an NFL contest in 2021. Running back Derrick Henry could be charged with leading the offense on the ground in his potential absence.

Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry Hyped By NFL Fans as Ravens Win Wild Card vs. Steelers

Jan 12, 2025
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Derrick Henry #22 during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland.  (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 11: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Derrick Henry #22 during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens started off strong and didn't look back during a 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Saturday night's Wild Card playoff clash between the two AFC North rivals.

The Ravens jumped out to a 21-0 lead at halftime, and the Steelers weren't able to overcome the deficit during the remainder of the contest.

Derrick Henry spearheaded Baltimore's offensive attack, as the AFC's leading rusher picked up 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries against Pittsburgh. This included a 44-yard score in the third quarter.

He fought through contact on multiple occasions, highlighted by a stiff arm on All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Jackson was also sharp, finishing 16-of-21 for 175 yards and two touchdowns without committing a turnover. His 76.1 completion percentage was a new playoff career high. He also rushed for 81 yards on 15 attempts.

Fans were amazed by the heroics of Jackson and Henry.

Baltimore's defense also made an impact despite failing to record a turnover, sacking Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson four times. Pittsburgh was limited to an average of just 2.6 yards per rush as a team, recording a mere 11 total first downs.

The Ravens have now advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season and will either play the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans depending on the winner of Sunday's postseason battle between the Bills and Denver Broncos.

Photo: Drake Bets $210K on Lamar Jackson, Ravens in NFL Wild Card Game vs. Steelers

Jan 11, 2025
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 16: Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Drake placed a hefty $210,000 parlay bet to pay out $630,000 on Lamar Jackson to score a touchdown and the Baltimore Ravens to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Wild Card playoff matchup on Saturday night.

The Canadian rapper revealed the bet in an Instagram post.

The 38-year-old has been known for his large wagers on a variety of sporting events, recently placing a $355,000 bet on Mike Tyson to defeat Jake Paul in their Nov. 15 fight.

He hasn't been as successful of late, as Paul picked up a unanimous decision win over Tyson.

Drake bet $300,000 on Canada to take down Lionel Messi and Argentina in the 2024 Copa América semifinal, but Messi's squad emerged with a 2-0 victory.

He also placed a $500,000 wager on the Dallas Mavericks to defeat the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals as well as an additional $500,000 on the Edmonton Oilers to emerge victorious over the Florida Panthers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, but neither team won.

Drake and Baltimore's signal-caller have been spotted several times together, with both attending the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The rapper also gave a shoutout to Jackson when he made an appearance at his It's All A Blur tour in July 2023.

The 28-year-old is coming off an incredible regular-season performance and is a candidate to win his third MVP award. In 17 starts, Jackson threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns compared to four interceptions while completing 66.7 percent of his passes. He also picked up 915 rush yards.

The Ravens faced off against their AFC North rivals twice, finishing with a 1-1 record. The Steelers took the opening matchup 18-16 in Week 11, while Baltimore secured a 34-17 win over Pittsburgh in Week 16.

Jackson hasn't found the end zone on the ground as often despite his rushing success in 2024, scoring four total touchdowns as a runner. None occurred against the Steelers.

Kickoff between Baltimore and Pittsburgh on Saturday is at 8 p.m. ET.