ON THE MOVE
Houston Texans receiver finds new home with Browns
Apr 29, 2025, 2:34 pm
ON THE MOVE
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns on Monday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The move was first reported by NFL Network.
Cleveland will be the fourth team that Johnson has been on in a year. He began last season with Carolina before being traded to Baltimore in late October. Johnson — who led the Panthers with 30 receptions and 357 receiving yards at the time of the trade — had only one catch in four games for the Ravens when he refused to enter a Dec. 1 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson was suspended one game and then waived by the Ravens on Dec. 21. He was claimed by Houston and had three receptions, including one for 12 yards in the Texans' wild-card playoff win over the Chargers.
Johnson though was waived shortly after that game as Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said it didn't work out. Johnson was then claimed by Baltimore, but the Ravens did that in order to possibly get a compensatory pick in the 2026 draft.
The 28-year old Johnson has plenty of experience playing in the AFC North. He was drafted in the third round by Pittsburgh in 2019 and spent five seasons with the Steelers. His best year was in 2021 when he had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.
Johnson joins a Browns receiving room that doesn't have many viable options other than Jerry Jeudy.
Who Johnson will be catching passes from during offseason workouts and training camp will be of more interest. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are expected to battle for Cleveland's starting quarterback job, but the Browns made things interesting during the draft with the selections of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Jeremy Peña had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, Colton Gordon got his first major league win and the Houston Astros defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 on Friday night.
Christian Walker drove in a pair of runs in the fifth inning and Brendan Rodgers added a solo shot in the sixth as the Astros improved to 3-1 on their six-game road trip.
Progressive overload.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/csk8tFHxKu
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 7, 2025
Gordon (1-1), who was making his fifth start, allowed one run on seven hits and struck out five. The left-hander was an eighth-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft.
Josh Hader recorded his 17th save, tied for second in the American League.
David Fry homered for the Guardians, who have dropped three of four. Carlos Santana had his 14-game hitting streak snapped.
It is the second hitting streak this season of at least 10 games for Peña. The shortstop is batting .449 (22 of 49) with three home runs and six RBIs during his current run.
On the board! pic.twitter.com/fbUnQOWE2Y
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 7, 2025
Houston took the lead with three runs in the fifth off Cleveland starter Logan Allen (3-4). Peña scored from second on a deep infield single by Jose Altuve and Walker drove in a pair with a base hit to right.
Making things happen!
Astros lead 3-0 pic.twitter.com/mybMfve9V4
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 7, 2025
Cleveland had a chance to do some damage in the first inning, but Angel Martínez and José Ramírez were thrown out at second by Houston left fielder Mauricio Dubón when they tried to extend base hits into doubles.
Need a reason to #VoteDubi?#AllStrosGame⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/8NNJmb1qHU
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 6, 2025
Dubón joined Toronto's Addison Barger as outfielders with a pair of assists in one inning this season.
"Wanna see me do it again?" -Dubi#VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/5V3vBQPqTi
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 6, 2025
Houston's struggles with the bases loaded continues. The Astros were 0 for 2 Friday night and are last in the majors with a .146 batting average.
Houston RHP Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.83 ERA) is tied for the AL lead in wins. Cleveland will go with RHP Gavin Williams (5-3, 3.79 ERA).