Pittsburgh Steelers place WR Diontae Johnson, C Kendrick Green on COVID-19 list ahead of finale vs. Ravens

Pittsburgh's cornerback duo of Ryan Lewis and Bernard Blake have come on strong in recent weeks, playing at the levels of their more experienced teammates. Unfortunately, history shows us that the absence of players from those units might be very costly in a game that could decide one team's season and playoff seeding. Adds up to another must-win game for Pittsburgh, but don't be surprised if this time, the home team gets it done.

The No.14 wide receiver in the most recent edition of Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players and the 2014 team Offensive MVP to a star-studded side that includes seven combined All-Pros, a touchdown-scoring running back in Le’Veon Bell, an elite quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger and a heralded offensive line and defense: Out of seemingly nowhere, Johnson has burst onto the scene as the quarterback of Pittsburgh’s offense. But it wasn’t always this way for Johnson, whose route to stardom has been anything but typical.

Johnson displayed his physical skills early in his career when he caught 35 passes as a rookie and continued to steadily improve. But he's never quite reached true stardom, widely missing out on Pro Bowl selections because the notion that he's not a difference-maker has lingered. His ability to get deep remains one of his most valuable assets, but he said it's no longer enough for him. Johnson admitted before the season that serving as Green Bay's red-zone threat would be a major objective for him. Early on, however, he struggled to secure passes close to the goal line in big spots, with one instance resulting in an interception against Detroit in Week 2.