Diontae Johnson working to get 'timing down' with Roethlisberger at OTAs

Diontae Johnson has been watching and learning during many of the team concepts in organized team activities this week.

His best work, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third-round draft pick said Wednesday afternoon, has come in early individual work with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Johnson said Roethlisberger has spent the past two days throwing him passes before the 11-on-11 portion of OTA workouts commence.

“He brought me over to get the routes and timing down with him,” Johnson said. “I want to show him I can run good routes and be consistent.”

Johnson has done less game-simulated activity than the team’s older wide receivers. He said he has taken “mental reps” while observing periods such as the Seven Shots 2-point conversion simulation.

“I’m trying to get a visual so that when they call that play and I’m in there, I have a feel for it,” he said.

Aside from a few plays in which he has lined up in the slot, Johnson said he has gotten all of his work as an outside wide receiver. And he feels more at ease in the second week of OTAs than he did during the first, which came on the heels of rookie minicamp.

“Everything is starting to slow down for me a little bit,” Johnson said. “The first week was kind of fast. I’m like, ‘It’s a lot.’ I’m taking it in slowly.”

Johnson spent some time after practice Wednesday getting extra work along with receivers James Washington, Tevin Jones and Trey Griffey.