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Steelers WR Diontae Johnson recovering from sports hernia surgery this offseason

An explanation of the mysterious photo of the young wide receiver in a hospital bed about a week ago.

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Mitchell Layton-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense has a playmaker in the making in Diontae Johnson. The Toledo product is headed into his second season as a professional after he was a second team All-Pro selection as a punt returner.

Watching Johnson play you see why the team took him with their first pick in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Johnson’s short area burst, route running and elusiveness is undeniable, but this offseason he scared fans when he posted the following photo on his Instagram story:

This photo sparked speculation across the Steelers fan base, but no one knew exactly what Johnson had done, or was ailing from. As it turns out, the prolific wideout had just had sports hernia surgery.

This per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

While this isn’t breaking news, it is important to note why Johnson was in the hospital and declaring how he is going to bounce back from the procedure/injury. As it turns out, Johnson will have to rest and rehab the sports hernia surgery, but, barring a setback, he should be ready for the 2020 regular season, training camp, and possibly Organized Team Activities (OTAs) when they roll around.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepare for Free Agency, as well as the 2020 NFL Draft.