He was born in Ruskin, Florida, and attended Earl J. Lennard High School in his hometown. His college career began at the University of Toledo, where he compiled 135 receptions for 2,235 yards and 23 touchdowns. He ranks No. 10 all-time in receiving yards for the Rockets. Johnson was also a productive returner specialist, with 1,826 yards and a touchdown on 78 kickoffs and another 343 yards and a touchdown on 17 punt returns. Johnson was not an elite athletic specimen coming out of college. He logged a 57th-percentile 40-time of 4.53 at the NFL Combine, rendering a 20th-percentile 83.3 Speed Score. His wing span is just 9.68. The Steelers saw enough in Johnson's college profile, however, to select him with the 66th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Johnson played 66.9-percent of the Steelers' snaps in his rookie season, drawing 92 targets which he turned into 59 receptions for 680 yards. He led all wide receivers with 2.39 yards of Target Separation and also led the NFL with an average of 12.4 yards per punt return. His Snap Share increased to 70.1-percent in 2020, and the Steelers made a more concerted effort to get him the ball. Johnson was No.6 among all wide receivers with 144 targets and led all players with a 20.7 percent Hog Rate. He posted 88 receptions for 923 yards at 10.5 yards per catch. He led the league with 11 drops, however, and his Catchable Target Rate was just 75-percent, No.66 among wide receivers.
Establishing himself as the leader of the Steelers receiving pack in 2021, Johnson played 91-percent snaps and commanded 169 targets for a 28.5 percent Target Share. He led all wide receivers with 594 routes run and was No.2 in Route Participation Rate at 98.2-percent. Johnson was also No.5 among all receivers with 107 receptions, and only eight players had more than Johnson's 1,161 receiving yards. He unfortunately committed another nine drops (No. 11), but was used more often downfield, seeing 24 deep balls, good for No.13 among receivers. He was also No.15 with a 35-percent Air Yards Share. Johnson was among the league leaders in YAC, as well, with 502 Yards After Catch.
Johnson’s production waned with the rookie Kenny Pickett at QB in 2022. He finished with 86 receptions for 882 receiving yards. Johnson also had no touchdowns, leading to his 10.6 (No. 39) fantasy points per game. He continued to be utilized at elite levels, with a 98.1-percent (No. 6) Route Participation and 147 (No. 6) targets. Pickett has a year of experience under his belt, and fantasy gamers should expect Johnson to continue to be an oft-used target.
While Johnson remained an elite target earner in 2023, the whole Pittsburgh offense failed to generate much traction. He missed four games due to injury and was only No.39 in fantasy points per game. Following the 2023 season Johnson was traded to the Carolina Panthers where he will pair with second year quarterback Bryce Young. Given the lack of depth at wide receiver in Carolina he should be in line for a huge role right away.
