Report: Trubisky benched after altercation with Diontae Johnson

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the decision to bench the struggling quarterback Mitchell Trubisky during their Week 4 matchup against the New York Jets, replacing him with 1st round draft selection Kenny Pickett. 

But according to a recently released report from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Trubisky was benched not due to performance issues, but due to an alleged confrontation in the locker room with receiver Diontae Johnson.

Per reporter Gerry Dulac: 

“Trubisky was benched against the Jets following a locker room confrontation at halftime with receiver Diontae Johnson, multiple sources have told the Post-Gazette,” Dulac wrote. “According to sources, Johnson began yelling at Trubisky to throw him the ball more, even though Johnson had a pass skip off his hands that resulted in an interception and failed to get his feet inbounds on what would have been a 23-yard touchdown in the first half. Trubisky stood up to Johnson and a heated exchange occurred. That’s when Pickett was told he would start the second half.”

Johnson had this to say about the reported altercation: 

“We’re both passionate about the game,” Johnson said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “Stuff happens during football. We’re fine, we talked about it. We made up, better over the whole situation. No hard feelings towards each other. That’s still my guy at the end of the day. I’m gonna still keep playing for him, cheering from him. Whatever it is that he needs me to do to help him look good out there, I’m gonna do it.

“Like I said, there’s no bad blood between us at all. It’s just us being football players at times and we’re not gonna let that stop us from achieving the goal that everybody is trying to achieve around here.”

The Steelers are fresh off an upset victory over Tampa Bay, and will next face the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.