Panthers send WR Diontae Johnson, 6th-round pick to Ravens, get back 5th-rounder, AP source says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Baltimore Ravens person added different violative playmaker for backmost Lamar Jackson.

The Ravens acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a sixth-round prime successful 2025 from nan Carolina Panthers for a 2025 fifth-rounder, according to a personification acquainted pinch nan situation.

The personification said to The Associated Press connected Tuesday connected information of anonymity because nan waste and acquisition has not been made official.

Johnson had been Carolina’s starring wide receiver since being acquired successful an offseason waste and acquisition pinch nan Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Donte Jackson. Johnson has 30 receptions for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns for Carolina, but did not play successful Sunday’s 28-14 nonaccomplishment to nan Denver Broncos because of a rib injury.

Johnson was group to go an unrestricted free supplier aft nan season.

The two-time MVP Jackson is having nan champion passing play of his profession for nan Ravens, pinch a 115.4 standing and 2,099 yards passing. He’s thrown 17 touchdown passes pinch only 2 interceptions.

Johnson now joins second-year wide receiver Zay Flowers and 24-year-old Rashod Bateman — positive a fistful of tin tight ends — among Jackson’s options.

However, it’s nan defense that threatens to clasp nan Ravens back.

Baltimore allowed 401 yards successful a nonaccomplishment to Cleveland connected Sunday that near nan Ravens (5-3) a crippled down Pittsburgh successful nan AFC North. So moreover aft acquiring Johnson, Baltimore whitethorn not beryllium done dealing earlier nan waste and acquisition deadline.

The Panthers (1-7) are apt successful trading mode pinch nan play slipping distant and eager to amended their draught positioning for adjacent season.

The 28-year-old Johnson’s champion play came successful 2021 erstwhile he caught 107 passes for 1,161 yards pinch 8 touchdowns for nan Steelers.

But he hasn’t rather returned to that level of production.

He followed that play up pinch 86 catches for 882 yards successful 2022, and his numbers fell disconnected past twelvemonth arsenic nan Steelers shifted nan attraction of their passing crippled to young wide receiver George Pickens. Johnson vanished pinch a career-low 51 catches for 717 yards on pinch 5 TDs successful 2023.

Johnson had antecedently said that he wanted to stay pinch nan Panthers aft waste and acquisition rumors began to swirl astir him earlier this season, adding that he was happy catching passes from seasoned backmost Andy Dalton.

The waste and acquisition of Johnson leaves nan Panthers pinch a young wide receiving group extracurricular of seasoned Adam Thielen, who has missed nan past 5 games pinch a hamstring injury, and David Moore.

The Panthers person been leaning much successful caller weeks connected 2024 first-round prime Xavier Legette and undrafted rookie Jalen Coker, who caught his first touchdown walk connected Sunday.

Moore and Legette started connected Sunday pinch Johnson and Thielen out.

Coker had 4 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown against Denver, while Legette had 4 grabs for 34 yards and a score, his 3rd of nan season. Moore had 4 catches for 39 yards.

Thielen is expected to return this week erstwhile nan Panthers big nan New Orleans Saints.

Jonathan Mingo, a second-round prime successful 2023, has besides been progressive but is losing reps to Coker. He has conscionable 1 drawback successful nan past 3 games.

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AP Sports Writer Noah Trister contributed to this report.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl