PITTSBURGH — Diontae Johnson is the first player on the field before games, but you have to show up pretty early to notice. He's easy to spot, too. Just look for the guy catching tennis balls near midfield.
Like clockwork every week, Johnson and assistant equipment manager Lou Balde are the only people on the field. They're putting in work when other players are still en route to the stadium.
Johnson turns his back and from 10 yards away tracks the tennis ball coming over his shoulder. He catches the ball with one hand, and they repeat the drill over and over.
This routine is repeated every day at practice, too. First ones on the field in the dog days of August. First ones on the field in the December cold, too.
"Extra work," Johnson said. "He comes up with drills half the time. I come up with some, too. I believe in him. He's progressing my game. I can't thank him enough just to throw the ball to me every day."
Johnson and Balde go through a number of different drills, but they all have one thing in common: they're designed to improve Johnson's hand-eye coordination.
Johnson did a lot of good things in his second NFL season. He led the Steelers in targets, receptions and receiving yards and also scored seven touchdowns. But he also was atop the league in one statistical category that no receiver wants to lead: drops.
Drops are not an official NFL statistic, but there is no doubt Johnson led the league last season. According to Pro Football Solutions he had 16. Pro Football Reference had him with 13.
"I've always had work ethic," Johnson said. "People have tough years. It happens to the best of them. It's how you respond. I put in work the whole offseason, and I'm continuing to do it. It's been showing in the games."
Johnson has gone from hands of stone to hands of gold. According to Pro Football Reference he has no drops in 109 targets this season. Pro Football Focus has him with one drop in 107 targets. Either way, he's changed the narrative about his game.
"I think you look at the improvement he's made this year and everything he does, how hard he's playing, I think his trajectory and how he's worked is a real compliment to him and his work ethic," offensive coordinator Matt Canada said.
Johnson again leads the Steelers in targets (109), receptions (68) and receiving yards (809). He is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season.
Johnson isn't just outworking the competition with his physical preparation. Ben Roethlisberger mentioned his mental preparation this week. He relayed that Johnson has the opposing team's depth chart and scouting report posted in his locker every week.
"I like to see who I'm going up against, who they got, who travels, do the play right or left?" Johnson said. "I like to know who the backup is as well. In case the starter goes down I like to know what to expect."
Johnson's athletic traits have been evident since he entered the league as a third-round pick out of Toledo in 2019. He flashed his elusiveness as a rookie when he returned punts and made a big impact in the passing game.
Those traits remain intact. He has 361 yards after the catch, which is more than Tyreek Hill and Ja'Marr Chase. He enters Sunday's game against the Ravens 12th in the NFL in yards after the catch and is among the top 10 in the league in targets and receptions.
"He's crazy talented," Roethlisberger said. "The things he can do to get open, his quickness, his speed, his short area bursts and things like that. I saw him [Tuesday] and just told him how proud I was of him not quitting [during the Bengals game]. Even the fact of that, not quitting at the end of that game, just keep fighting through it and stuff, I just think those are all things that show growth and maturity for a young guy that is doing some great things for us."
Johnson's teammates might be able to learn something and benefit from his drills. Even with Johnson's marked improvement the Steelers remain are among the 10 worst teams in the league this season with drops. They have 19 in 11 games, according to Pro Football Reference.
Johnson said there is an open invitation to his sessions.
"Whoever wants to do extra drills with me, then let's be great together," he said.
