Out goes Donte Moncrief, in comes Diontae Johnson. On Friday, fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said that the rookie would be a starting receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as Josh Rowntree of 93.7 The Fan reports.

Johnson confirmed Smith-Schuster's words, saying, via Rowntree:

“I'm just trying to do what I can. Now, I'm in the offense right now — starting. I'm just trying to continue to show the coaches that I know what I'm doing and getting ready for Sunday.”

Johnson noted that the coaches didn't tell him exactly why he's the starter. “[They] told me I'm the starter from here on out,” said Johnson.

Johnson's elevation from bench member to the starter is likely due to Moncrief inability to catch the ball consistently. However, the rookie notes that the veteran and others have helped him to become the player he is heading into Week 3. Said Johnson:

“It’s just learning from ‘Crief a lot and the rest of the guys — pick their brains and whatnot — because they played a lot more than me. I’m just seeing what they say and that down on the field and apply that to my game.”

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Johnson's rise to starter may be surprising to some. Second-year receiver James Washington may have been the expected one, as at Oklahoma State, he established a rapport with starting quarterback Mason Rudolph. However, Pittsburgh must see the 2019 third-round pick as a better fit alongside Smith-Schuster.

The Steelers play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers in the Bay Area. Pittsburgh is 0-2 while San Francisco is 2-0.