OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens waived disgruntled wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Friday, ending his drama-filled seven weeks with the team.
Johnson, who was acquired by the Ravens from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, can be claimed by a team starting Monday at 4 p.m. ET.
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday that Johnson is likely to be claimed on waivers, with potential landing spots including the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Johnson's time with the Ravens amounted to 1 catch, 6 receiving yards, 39 snaps and a lot of frustration. He was suspended by Baltimore for one game after he refused to play Dec. 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles and was then excused from team activities this past week.
His departure comes at a time when the Ravens could use him the most. Baltimore is thin on experienced wide receivers after ruling out Nelson Agholor (concussion), though Rashod Bateman (foot) is active for Saturday's pivotal AFC North game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after being listed as questionable.
The lack of proven depth at wide receiver led the Ravens to send a fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Johnson and a sixth-round selection. Johnson, who was the leading receiver for Carolina at the time, failed to get significant playing time in four games for Baltimore and its No. 3 passing attack in the league.
In the 24-19 loss to the Eagles, Johnson suited up but then decided not to play, according to the team. The Ravens needed him because Bateman was ruled out in the second half of that game with a knee injury.
Three days later, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta announced that Johnson had been suspended for one game, describing the disciplinary action as a "difficult decision." When the suspension ended, Baltimore said it was mutually decided that Johnson would be excused from team activities for this week.
Now, the Ravens have moved on, closing out one of the most puzzling trades in team history. A third-round draft pick in 2019 by the Steelers, Johnson has totaled 422 catches for 4,726 yards and 28 touchdowns for Pittsburgh, Carolina and Baltimore.
Baltimore is dealing with other issues at wide receiver as well. There had been hope Agholor could get cleared from the concussion protocol for Saturday's game. But on Friday the Ravens downgraded their No. 3 wide receiver to out, an untimely loss for quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL's top-ranked offense.
The Ravens' only healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster who have caught more than 10 passes this season are Bateman and Zay Flowers, who leads Baltimore with 66 receptions for 916 yards. The other wide receivers are Tylan Wallace, who has 10 catches for 191 yards, and rookie fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, who made his first career catch -- a 21-yard touchdown -- Sunday.
The Steelers also won't be at full strength at wide receiver. Pittsburgh ruled out leading receiver George Pickens (hamstring) for a third straight game.
Saturday's game in Baltimore is the biggest matchup in the AFC North this season. If Pittsburgh (10-4) wins, the Steelers will clinch their first division title since 2020. If Baltimore (9-5) wins, the Ravens will tie the Steelers atop the AFC North and have a 45% chance of capturing the division, according to ESPN Analytics.