The Pittsburgh Steelers offense struggled mightily during quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's absence during the 2019 campaign. Regardless, it appears this was not the only factor wide receiver Diontae Johnson had to overcome as a rookie.

Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury in Week 2 had dominated headlines with the team in a state of flux. Johnson recently revealed that suffered a groin injury in the same game that ultimately required a sports hernia surgery in February, via Joe Rutter of Trib Live:

Hopefully, I’ll be cleared in the next couple days,” Johnson said on a conference call with local reporters. “I’m just staying on top of that and making sure I’m healthy so I can come back ready.”

Johnson added that it was a non-contact injury.

“I was running and it felt like my groin got a little tight on me,” Johnson said.

There is no question that dealing with a lingering groin injury comes with its own set of challenges. Regardless, Johnson still managed to push through and finish his rookie campaign with 59 receptions for 680 yards and five touchdowns.

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The former third-round pick is optimistic that he is primed for a breakout year in the 2020 NFL season now that he is back to full health. The return of Roethlisberger gives him good reason to be confident that he can emerge as a go-to weapon in the Steelers passing game.

Pittsburgh has high hopes that Johnson can serve as a bonafide complementary piece to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is also coming off a rough year of his own. Any chance at a potential resurgence this season will need to begin on offense with Roethlisberger's supporting cast.