The Panthers have placed OLB DJ Johnson on the non-football injury list due to a concussion he sustained in a car accident on Thursday.
A few more details have emerged regarding the status of Carolina Panthers outside linebacker DJ Johnson.
Johnson was added to the Week 18 injury report this afternoon, just two days ahead of the team’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, due to personal reasons. The second-year defender, who did not participate in practice on Friday, was also ruled out of the contest.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters following the session that Johnson was involved in a car accident and underwent evaluation. The evaluation, per a team spokesman, determined that 26-year-old sustained a concussion.
Per Panthers spokesperson: DJ Johnson sustained a concussion in a two-car accident Thursday on Rama Rd. in south Charlotte. Was not transported by emergency medical personnel.
Panthers placed Johnson on the non-football injury list today.
Panthers HC Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that OLB DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week. He will not play on Sunday.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that outside linebacker DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week.
Canales was asked about the second-year defender’s sudden inclusion on this week’s injury report, which listed Johnson as out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons due to a personal matter.
“It was a car accident,” Canales stated this afternoon. “That’s pretty much what I know about it. But enough to the point where he’s in evaluation right now.”
He was then asked about Johnson’s current condition.
“I have not seen him,” replied Canales, who also added that Johnson’s accident was not life-threatening.
Dave Canales says DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident. Not sure on his condition, but not life-threatening. pic.twitter.com/Fv6m6dEyKA
The Panthers will once again be without CB Jaycee Horn and ILB Josey Jewell.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn will not be finishing out his Pro Bowl campaign.
Horn, who was officially named to his first Pro Bowl Games yesterday morning, has been ruled out for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons due to his hip injury. The fourth-year defender also missed last week’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Inside linebacker Josey Jewell will also sit out of this weekend’s contest with a concussion. Like Horn, Jewell did not suit up for Week 17’s trip to Raymond James Stadium.
Bryce Young and Jalen Coker connected for the Panthers’ longest play of the 2024 season on Sunday.
Down 10-0 near the end of the first half, and with the Dallas Cowboys threatening for more, the Carolina Panthers desperately needed a spark to keep their chances in Week 15 alive. Fortunately for them, that spark came in a flash.
The complementary football head coach Dave Canales has been looking for showed up in the final minute of the second quarter, when outside linebacker DJ Johnson recovered a fumble at Carolina’s own 17-yard line.
That, on the very next snap, would be followed by an 83-yard touchdown connection between quarterback Bryce Young and rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker. Their less conventional scoop-and-score turned what could have been at least a 13-0 deficit into a 10-7 one.
The Panthers won’t have one of their standout rookie receivers for today’s matchup against the Chiefs.
The Carolina Panthers won’t have one of their standout rookies for this afternoon’s battle with the Kansas City Chiefs.
As announced by the team about an hour and a half before today’s kickoff, wide receiver Jalen Coker will not be active against the defending Super Bowl champions. The 23-year-old did not participate in Friday’s practice due to a quadriceps injury and was listed as questionable coming into the weekend.
Coker, an undrafted free-agent signee from this past spring, has recorded 17 catches for 263 yards and a touchdown over seven career games. His 263 receiving yards are currently the 11th-most by any rookie this season.
Luckily for the Panthers, they will be getting back fellow wideout Adam Thielen—who is set to return after missing seven games with a hamstring injury. The 11th-year veteran led Carolina in targets (137), receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,014) in 2023.
Here’s the full list of inactives for the Panthers in Week 12:
Panthers QB Bryce Young won’t have his starting LT on his blindside in Week 9.
The Carolina Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young will be without their starting left tackle on Sunday.
Third-year offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu has been ruled out of the team’s Week 9 contest against the New Orleans Saints. Ekwonu was a non-participant in practice throughout the entire week due to an ankle injury.
Head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Brady Christensen will get the start at left tackle in place of Ekwonu. Cade Mays will, in turn, take over at center for Christensen.
Carolina has also ruled out tight end Feleipe Franks (concussion) and safety Jammie Robinson (knee).
Panthers WR Xavier Legette was added to the Week 9 injury report on Thursday.
Carolina Panthers wideout Xavier Legette may want to take it easy on ol’ Dolla Bill for the rest of the week.
The rookie receiver was added to the team’s Week 9 injury report with a toe issue. Legette, who scored his third NFL touchdown in this past Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, has been listed as a limited participant for Thursday’s practice session.
Fellow rookie Jonathon Brooks (knee) remains on the report, but was down as a full participant for the second straight session. Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum (quad) was also a full participant once again.
In a bit of potentially concerning news, left tackle Ikem Ekwonu missed another outing due to an ankle injury.
Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks is getting closer to his NFL debut.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton won’t be getting the start in Week 9, but he’s closer to getting back to full health.
The veteran passer, who missed this past Sunday’s 28-14 loss to the Denver Broncos due to a sprained right thumb, was listed as a full participant for today’s practice. He will, however, give way once again to Bryce Young—who was announced as the Week 9 starter by head coach Dave Canales.
“Andy is progressing. He was out there throwing. And I just really looked at all the things and for me, I just erred on the side of caution and wanted get Andy in the best possible situation to be able to make a decision going forward.”
Joining Dalton as a full participant was rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), who has yet to make his NFL debut. The Panthers now have one week to activate Brooks to the main roster.
Canales did not rule out Brooks from suiting up for Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Panthers coach Dave Canales says they will take the full week to see if Jonathon Brooks is ready to play. Seems headed that way. pic.twitter.com/Dg9uSlA3zg
Saints DE Carl Granderson ripped through the Panthers for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023. LT Ikem Ekwonu must keep him at bay in Week 1.
The Carolina Panthers will have to claim a few battles to win the war against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Here are four key matchups for this weekend’s regular-season opener between the NFC South rivals:
WR Diontae Johnson vs. CB Marshon Lattimore
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Quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers have a few new toys on offense, including Johnson. The former Pro Bowler, who is one of the best pure separators in football, will serve as the unit’s go-to target and give Young an element of openness he didn’t always have last season.
When it comes to New Orleans, go-to targets go through Lattimore—who was not in uniform the only time Johnson has faced the Saints. That contest came in 2022, when Johnson went for 63 yards on four receptions against Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor—the other two featured corners who are still in the secondary.
LT Ikem Ekwonu vs. DE Carl Granderson
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For Young to find Johnson and the rest of his pass catchers, he’ll have to avoid Granderson—who was an absolute menace against Carolina in 2023. The 27-year-old accounted for 10 pressures, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble between their two meetings.
Much of that pressure was charged to Ekwonu. The former sixth overall pick can begin to put a mediocre second campaign behind him with a little redemption at the start of his third.
Panthers OLBs vs. Saints OTs
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina’s defense is headed into Week 1 with very few, if any answers to their pass-rushing problems. Other than 11th-year veteran Jadeveon Clowney, the Panthers are carrying only three (very inexperienced) outside linebackers on the active roster—DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and Jamie Sheriff.
Luckily for them, the Saints have a little inexperience of their own on the blindside with rookie and 2024 first-round pick Taliese Fuaga. They’ll also be rolling out starting right tackle Trevor Penning, who has had a very rough go in the NFL over his brief two-year career.
Something may (or may not) have to give here.
CB Mike Jackson vs. WR A.T. Perry
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to the second edge spot, the Panthers will have to figure out who will step up as the No. 2 cornerback next to Jaycee Horn. Mike Jackson, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 22, will seemingly get the first crack at the job.
He has to make sure Perry, an ascending young talent for New Orleans, doesn’t make himself a smooth criminal on Sunday.
The Panthers are set to relaunch QB Bryce Young on Sunday. And this time, it’ll be with HC Dave Canales behind him.
Whether you consider it a rebuild or a retool, the return of Carolina Panthers football comes this Sunday. So, what should we keep in mind as the organization begins anew once again?
Here are the top storylines for Sunday’s regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints:
The relaunch of Bryce Young
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Carolina has put all of their chips on No. 9. And when we say “all of their chips,” that includes star wideout DJ Moore and four high-end draft picks—one of which eventually became 2024’s No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
But the initial return on 2023’s No. 1 overall pick was not great . . . at all. Bryce Young passed for just 179.8 yards per game and 11 touchdowns while leading not only the worst offense in the league, but also one of the most futile in the history of the franchise.
The organization placed another big chip on Young this offseason, hiring first-year head coach Dave Canales—who helped spark career campaigns for Seattle’s Geno Smith and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield over the last two years. Thus far, the relationship between Young and Canales seems to be going swimmingly, with the former receiving rave reviews throughout the offseason.
Will that success, however, translate when the real action starts on Sunday?
Let the rooks cook?
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Simply hiring a quarterback whisperer wouldn’t be enough. After bringing in Canales and spending a boatload on a pair of new starting guards, the Panthers put down more chips on Young by selecting receiver Xavier Legette and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in this year’s draft.
Legette, the team’s first-round pick, may be moved along slowly and surely. With Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo above him in the pecking order as of now, the somewhat raw 23-year-old is likely to have a relatively quiet debut.
Sanders, on the other hand, may be stepping right into the fire. Starters Tommy Tremble and Ian Thomas have been ruled out for the contest, potentially giving the fourth-rounder a featured role in his very first regular-season game.
On edge
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Despite holding their opponents to the fourth-fewest yards per game last season, the Panthers defense was the absolute worst in the NFL at getting to the quarterback. And when you saddle their league-low 27 sacks with the losses of Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos—their three leading producers in that stat from 2023—that’s probably a recipe for disaster.
That concern has been amplified by what they have (or haven’t) replenished their pass-rushing department with this offseason. Three-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall selection Jadeveon Clowney will serve as one of the two outside linebackers—and that’s okay. But with their other big free-agent signing at the position, D.J. Wonnum, starting the season on the physically unable to perform list, Carolina is exceptionally thin off the edge.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will be going into Sunday with just three outside ‘backers on the active roster other than Clowney—DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and rookie Jamie Sheriff. They have combined for a grand total of zero sacks in the NFL.
So, where will Evero and the Panthers get their pass rush from?
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