DIONTAE JOHNSON has admitted he refused to enter a game because his feet were too cold.
The veteran wideout spend the 2024 season playing for three different NFL teams.
Johnson played for the Carolina Panthers, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Houston Texans last season.
After his release from the Ravens, he signed a one-year, $1.17 million deal with the Cleveland Browns in April.
The 28-year-old is a former third round pick and in 2021 eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards while playing for the Steelers.
But he has admitted last season wasn’t his finest hour, claiming he had “checked out mentally.”
The final straw for the Ravens management came against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
“I wasn't getting into no run plays, no passing plays or nothing. It was cold,” Johnson explained.
“End of the third going into the fourth, they were like, ‘Tae, we need you.
“I was like, ‘Nah, I don't think it's a good idea for me.'”
Temperatures had dropped to 21 degrees during the contest on December 1.
“Like, my legs are already ice cold and I didn't wanna go out there and put bad stuff on film,” he added.
“After that, they said I was a distraction and they released me.”
Johnson played in four games for the Ravens in total, catching just one pass for 6 yards.
He finished the season with 33 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns, with the majority of his production for the Panthers.
Johnson is hoping to relight his career this season with the Browns.
The organization has made a host of moves at quarterback over the offseason.
NFL WEEK 1 SCHEDULE
(All times ET)
Thur 4 Sept
8.20 pm – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Fri 5 Sept
8pm – Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Sun 7 Sept
1pm – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons
1pm – Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
1pm – Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts
1pm – Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
1pm – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
1pm – Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets
1pm – New York Giants at Washington Commanders
1pm – Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
4.05 pm – Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
4.05 pm – San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
4.25 pm – Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
4.25 pm – Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
8.20 pm – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Mon 8 Sept
8.15 pm – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Johnson could yet be catching passes from one of four QBs.
Dillon Gabriel was drafted by the Browns in the third round while Shedeur Sanders was picked in the fifth round of this year’s draft.
The rookie pair join veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on the depth chart.
Deshaun Watson has been confirmed out for the season with an Achilles injury.
