Steelers’ Diontae Johnson unmoved by his spectacular leaping, 1-handed, toe-tap catch

Almost lost in the craziness that was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-opening win at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday was Diontae Johnson’s eye-popping catch.

On the first snap of a possession that began with less than 4 minutes remaining in overtime, quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw back shoulder to Johnson, who was along the left sideline and covered well by Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.

Johnson spun back toward the ball while he leaped high in the air and corralled the ball with his left hand, pulled it into his body and — for good measure — tapped both toes in bounds, all within the inches of turf he had to work with between the out-of-bounds line and Awuzie.

Officials initially ruled the play incomplete, but a video review confirmed Johnson controlled the ball and got his feet in bounds.

why isnt espn posting but gone post a catch that didn’t even count ????????????‍♂️ https://t.co/VN6QTI2VVQ

— ???? 6’4 Nightskin???????????? (@kdd7696) September 12, 2022

“I just (saw) the ball in the air, (assistant equipment manager Lou Badle) was telling me I had to make a play on the ball — somebody had to make a play — and I just figured, ‘Why not me?’” Johnson said after the game. “And I made a great play on the ball and was able to get two feet in. I have to give credit to Lou for all the work we put in day in and day out.”

It’s been chronicled how much pre- and post-practice work Johnson regularly does with Badle throwing him hundreds of balls.

It showed last year when Johnson had career highs of 107 receptions and 1,161 receiving yards. It paid off when he signed a two-year, $36.7 million contract extension in August.

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• Minkah Fitzpatrick fills up the stat sheet over 104 snaps played in Steelers opening win

In his first regular-season game since, Johnson led the Steelers in targeted throws (12) and catches (seven) during the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime win. His acrobatic catch — some people referenced it looked like the “Air Jordan” logo — did not directly lead to the winning points, but it might have been the most aesthetically pleasing of the day, not only in that game but throughout the NFL.

Steelers guard Kevin Dotson took issue that ESPN had highlighted a “catch” by Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase that was ruled incomplete.

“I am trying to tell people, on Twitter and stuff (after) I saw NFL on ESPN had posted Ja’Marr Chase’s catch that didn’t count — and I’m like, ‘Did we not see that catch that did count?!’ ” Dotson said Monday from the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

“We just take what they give us, so I’m all right.”

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