Johnson is Digest Player of the Week
DIONTAE JOHNSON
It was the kind of performance a team expects from its No. 1 wide receiver. It was the kind of performance the Steelers have been hoping to get from Diontae Johnson on a regular basis.
Johnson finished with 10 catches for 98 yards to lead all receivers in both categories, but there was a sub-text to those statistics that combined to make his performance even more special. Johnson was targeted 10 times and made 10 catches, which means he had a perfect catch percentage of 100. Those 10 catches were good for 7 first downs, and five of those seven came on third-down situations in a game where the Steelers converted 12-of-16 (75 percent) on third downs. Johnson is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Mitch Trubisky, who started in place of the injured Kenny Pickett and completed 17-of-22 (77.3 percent) for 179 yards, with no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 100.4, while also gaining 10 yards on five quarterback sneaks with 1 touchdown; Larry Ogunjobi, who had 5 tackles, including 2 for loss on running plays, an area where the Panthers were limited to 21 yards on 16 attempts (1.3 average); Najee Harris, who rushed for 86 yards on 24 carries with a 7-yard touchdown run that opened the scoring; Cam Heyward, who had 3 tackles and 1.5 sacks; and Alex Highsmith, who had 4 tackles, 1 sack, and a forced fumble.
Highsmith is Digest Player of Week
2.5 sacks in finale vs. the Browns gave him a team-leading 14.5 for the 2022 regular season
Harris is Digest Player of the Week
His 111 yards rushing, 10-yard catch for a TD, and physical presence throughout keyed 16-13 win
Heyward is Steelers Digest Player of Week
When the defense had to get the ball back for the offense, Heyward helped make that happen
Pickens is Digest Player of the Week
He averaged 26 yards on his 3 receptions, with a fourth target drawing a DPI in the end zone
Minkah is Digest Player of the Week
Led the defense in tackles vs. a top rushing offense, then iced the win with an interception
Pickett is Digest Player of the Week
During the decisive TD drive in the 4th quarter, he was accurate, decisive, and poised
90 yards rushing, 116 yards from scrimmage, 2 TDs builds upon last week's performance
Reed is Digest Player of the Week
His sack and a pass defensed helped keep the game relatively close early
Freiermuth is Digest Player of the Week
His 8 catches for 75 yards led the team in both categories in 16-10 loss in Miami
Claypool is Digest Player of the Week
Third-year wide receiver played big vs. Bucs, and it had nothing to do with his height
Heyward is Digest Player of the Week
Even on a day when the opponent scored 38 points, Heyward found a way to be a standout