Tag: DJ Johnson

Initial 53-man roster projection for the 2024 Panthers

Here is our final projection for the Panthers’ initial 2024 53-man roster:

Now that the preseason is officially in the books, the Carolina Panthers have another task to tackle—the big cutdown.

Between now and 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the Panthers and the rest of the NFL’s 31 teams must get down to their initial 53-player rosters.

Here is our final projection for Carolina’s initial 53:

Quarterbacks (2)

In: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
Out: Jack Plummer

Plummer impressed in the summer finale, completing 21 of his 29 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns. But that still won’t be enough to devote a third spot on the roster to a quarterback.

Running backs (4)

In: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone
Out: Jaden Shirden
Reserve/NFI list: Jonathon Brooks

Boone has benefitted from the inactivity of both Blackshear and Brooks, who isn’t expected back for at least a handful of weeks into the regular season. And luckily for the former, his successful track record as a kick returner keeps him around.

Wide receivers (6)

In: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, David Moore
Out: Terrace Marshall Jr., Michael Strachan, Jalen Coker, Sam Pinckney

The sixth and final spot came down to Marshall Jr. and Moore. Moore’s experience on special teams and his previous history with head coach Dave Canales in both Seattle and Tampa Bay give him the edge.

Tight ends (4)

In: Tommy Tremble, Ian Thomas, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Jordan Matthews
Out: Feleipe Franks, Jacob Hollister, Jesper Horsted

Matthews earned his spot with a spectacular summer. The 32-year-old opened the preseason with a team-high 48 receiving yards in New England and ended it with a touchdown to kick off the last outing in Buffalo.

Offensive linemen (9)

In: Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Yosh Nijman, Cade Mays, Chandler Zavala
Out: Ricky Lee, Jeremiah Crawford, Mason Brooks, Andrew Raym, Jack Anderson, Ike Boettger, Tyler Smith

Given that he’s the only true center on the roster, Raym has a shot to stick on. But the versatility of backups such as Nijman, Christensen and Mays allows the Panthers to keep the number of hog mollies at nine.

Defensive linemen (5)

In: Derrick Brown, A’Shawn Robinson, Shy Tuttle, Nick Thurman, LaBryan Ray
Out: Jaden Crumedy, T.J. Smith, Ulomoo Ale, Jayden Peevy, Walter Palmore, Junior Aho

Crumedy, the team’s sixth-round selection from this spring, could be in trouble while dealing a high-ankle sprain. So could Smith, who’d be a favorite to sneak back on as a practice squad member after recording a pair of sacks this preseason.

Outside linebackers (5)

In: Jadeveon Clowney, K’Lavon Chaisson, DJ Johnson, Eku Leota, Luiji Vilain
Out: Cam Gill, Derrick McLendon, Kenny Dyson
Reserve/Physically unable to perform list: D.J. Wonnum, Amaré Barno

Vilain and Gill could be battling for the fifth locker. But if it actually doesn’t go to either, look for the Panthers to pick up a pass rusher off the street.

Inside linebackers (4)

In: Shaq Thompson, Josey Jewell, Trevin Wallace, Claudin Cherelus
Out: Chandler Wooten, Tae Davis, Aaron Beasley

Canales does not take special teams prowess for granted. Cherelus and Wooten could claim spots with theirs.

Cornerbacks (6)

In: Jaycee Horn, Michael Jackson, Troy Hill, Chau Smith-Wade, Dicaprio Bootle, D’Shawn Jamison
Out: Willie Drew, Chris Wilcox, Quandre Mosely
Injured: Dane Jackson

The “significant” hamstring injury to Jackson (Dane, that is) could force the Panthers to keep a few outside options—including both Bootle and Jamison.

Safeties (5)

In: Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Jammie Robinson, Alex Cook
Out: Demani Richardson, Rudy Ford
Injured: Sam Franklin Jr.

As Canales has stated, there’s no replacing Franklin Jr.—who will be out for quite a bit while healing up a broken foot. Cook, however, could give the Panthers a little bit back on special teams.

Specialists (3)

In: Eddy Piñeiro, Johnny Hekker, JJ Jansen

Well, nothing to see here.

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Reviewing film for the Panthers’ top performers from preseason game vs. Jets

Before we jump into the Panthers’ preseason finale on Saturday, let’s hit the film for some standouts from last week’s outing.

The Carolina Panthers fell short to the New York Jets in their second preseason game last Saturday—where the team’s starters were, once again, held out of action. So, this left even more meaningful playing time to those whose jobs aren’t exactly secure.

Unfortunately, some of the players who took advantage of their opportunities are no longer on the roster—most notably running back Dillon Johnson and cornerback Lamar Jackson. But after taking a deep dive into the All-22 film from the contest, we still have three standouts to highlight . . .

LG Jack Anderson

Anderson has already made quite a few stops since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2021. Carolina, who reeled in the Texas Tech product on Aug. 11 to counter the injuries along their offensive line, became his sixth.

I came away not only thoroughly impressed, but also surprised by how seamlessly he played against the Jets’ second-team defensive line—which featured a couple of players who could’ve been starters elsewhere.

Anderson did some good work on duo blocks, creating creases for Johnson and fellow running back Mike Boone. He displayed the mobility to work effortlessly to the second level, and impressed with his movement skills and flexibility—which allowed him to wash out looping pass rushers. 

The 6-foot-4, 313-pounder did a nice job of getting his pads low and winning with leverage. He was looking for extra defenders to block or help his fellow linemen with and put multiple defenders in the ground.

While he isn’t a lock for the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster, Anderson could make for a solid depth piece or practice squad player in another opportunity.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders

Sanders, who has continued to grow into the chances he’s received due to injuries at his position, was one of a few rookie standouts on the night.

It wasn’t long ago that the former Texas Longhorn was the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart. With Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble banged up, that allowed the team’s fourth-round selection to get his time in the spotlight.

There was a concern that the rookie would need to allocate some time as a big slot as he developed his in-line skill set. Instead, Sanders seems quite comfortable as an in-line Y and blocker.

He’s displaying more effort and willingness to stay attached to blocks. This allowed for some decent yardage for Boone and wide receiver Jonathan Mingo at times. Early in the game—off a play-action bootleg—Sanders ran a flat route to the boundary, catching it in stride and lowering his shoulder to bulldoze a would-be tackler. 

With Thomas still dealing with an injury and Tremble having another potential hamstring issue after practice on Thursday, Sanders could be in line to have not only significant playing time in Week 1, but make his first career start in the NFL.

LB Trevin Wallace

A raw linebacker out of Kentucky, Wallace was arguably the most questionable selection by Carolina in the 2024 draft. And that rawness still shows, as he must continue to work on not overthinking each play and moving with the flow of the game.

But Wallace put on a show that made Panthers fans giddy for the future of the middle of their defense.

The former All-SEC defender displayed the sideline-to-sideline range and elite athletic ability that intrigued general manager Dan Morgan. Wallace brings a good amount of pop at the tackle point while flashing consistent technique as a tackler.

Remember how vicious Luke Kuechly’s tackles were? There were some shades of that, as Wallace sifted through traffic well while displaying good run fits and tackles in space.

Other standouts

  • Rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade was impressive with his reps at outside corner and at the nickel. He displayed good effort and willingness to come downhill in run support. There were also instances of him upending ball carriers. Don’t be surprised if he’s in line to start Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints at nickel.
  • Smith-Wade’s teammate, second-year defensive back Jammie Robinson, had an outstanding game against the Jets. He showed physicality in the run game, making physical tackles in the open field while being a great run support and defender in coverage. 
  • Outside linebacker D.J. Johnson and interior defensive lineman T.J. Smith were two performers that stood out to me as well, especially in the first half. I appreciated Johnson’s effort and ability to seal off the backside of inside or outside zone runs. The Panthers’ 2023 third-round selection made some good plays against the run. Smith continued his strong preseason with great effort and his second sack in as many weeks. He has become a top candidate for the practice squad heading into the final game of the preseason.

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Panthers DC Ejiro Evero on team’s pass rushers: ‘They’re inexperienced, but talented’

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero on team’s pass rushers: ‘We’ve seen a lot of growth from a lot of young guys.’

Where is the Carolina Panthers’ pass rush going to come from in 2024? Well, there may be no better person to ask than defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The highly-coveted 43-year-old play-caller spoke with reporters following Monday’s outing of training camp. He was asked about the biggest question mark facing his unit entering this season—their pass rush.

“We feel really good about the group,” Evero replied. “[Jadeveon] Clowney, obviously, his résumé speaks for itself. But the group is doing a heck of a job. They’re inexperienced, but there’s a lot of talent there. They’re working hard and they’re improving.”

Evero, who is entering his second season in Carolina, wasn’t able to generate much of a pass rush in his first. The Panthers finished last in the NFL in sacks for the 2023 campaign, recording just 27 takedowns of opposing quarterbacks.

That task may be tougher in 2024—especially after the departures of two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, Frankie Luvu and Yetur Gross-Matos. Carolina has tried to replenish those losses, as they signed veterans in Clowney, D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson this spring.

But it could be the younger guys who give the defense some answers.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth from a lot of young guys,” Evero added. “Gotta give a lot of kudos to Eku [Leota]. He’s done a really good job. DJ Johnson’s shown improvement. Luiji’s [Vilain] shown improvement. So it’s been fun to watch them develop.”

Leota must’ve been particularly fun for Evero to watch this past Thursday. The second-year outside linebacker was all over the field in Carolina’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots, as he notched a team-high four pressures as well as a pair of stops.

So hopefully for Leota and the rest of the group, the pressure stays on throughout the summer and into the regular season.

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Panthers OLB DJ Johnson receives high praise from Dave Canales, Jadeveon Clowney

Second-year OLB DJ Johnson may be getting ready to emerge for the Panthers in 2024.

Don’t break out the “bust” label for Carolina Panthers outside linebacker DJ Johnson just yet, folks.

The second-year defender was a pretty hot topic of conversation tonight, particularly after the team’s Fan Fest practice at Memorial Stadium from Clemson, S.C. Head coach Dave Canales provided the first of two pertinent reviews on Johnson.

“He’s doing fantastic,” Canales said of the 25-year-old. “The effort and the style we’re looking for—DJ’s exemplifying that. So I’m really hopeful to see what he gets to do.”

Carolina went a bit out of their way to select Johnson last spring, trading up to the 2023 draft’s 80th overall pick for the raw prospect. Unfortunately, he didn’t do much to justify the move—as Johnson posted a grand total of zero sacks as a rookie.

But he could be turning a corner, literally. Just ask a fella named Jadeveon Clowney.

“He’s definitely one of the best edge setters that we have out there,” the three-time Pro Bowler later added of his new teammate. “Setting the edge, stopping the run, DJ definitely brings that physicality to the game and you need that out of the guys.

“This is a physical game. This is most definitely what you’re gonna need to stop the run in this league—physicality. So for him to be able to set the edge, that’s good for the team.”

That’s certainly good for a team which is quite desperate for a pass rush. Not only did the Panthers just finish last in the league in sacks, but they also lost both Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu this offseason.

Johnson’s potential emergence may be especially timely given the absence of free-agent signing D.J. Wonnum, who is expected to start opposite of Clowney. But with Wonnum yet to hit the practice field as he recovers from a torn quad, that spot may be up for the taking.

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Panthers GM Dan Morgan names his potential sleepers at OLB position

Do the Panthers have a few sleepers off the edge this season? Dan Morgan believes so.

It’s very easy to sleep on who the Carolina Panthers currently have at the outside linebacker position. But the man who put them there thinks it may soon be time to wake up.

President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan hit the lectern for a chat this afternoon. With training camp officially beginning on Wednesday, he was asked if he believes there are any answers to the myriad of questions about their unproven pass rush.

“Yeah, I mean, DJ Johnson,” Morgan replied. “Drafted him last year. He’s a big, physical guy. Eku Leota—another guy that when he had his opportunities last year, he came in and he played good for us. K’Lavon Chaisson, we signed him to a one-year deal. High draft pick, a guy that we’re excited about that maybe people are sleeping on.

“So it’s really up to him to go out there and prove it, just like it is everybody on the roster. Again, I’m excited to see everybody go out there and compete.”

Although they allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game in 2023, the Panthers defense ranked last in sacks with 27. Oh, and that was with two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu—both of whom have found new homes this offseason.

As Morgan mentioned off the top, Johnson may have to step into a regular role in his second season. But he’ll have to shake off a very quiet first one, where he registered a grand total of zero sacks as a rookie.

The situation is also a bit clouded by the health of D.J. Wonnum, who the team signed to be their starter along with former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Wonnum, who was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list this past weekend, is still recovering from a quadriceps tear he sustained in late December.

Morgan told reporters that the team currently does not have a timeline on Wonnum’s return.

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Panthers OLB DJ Johnson carted off from mandatory minicamp

Second-year OLB DJ Johnson was carted off from Tuesday’s session of mandatory minicamp.

Carolina Panthers outside linebacker DJ Johnson may be facing yet another obstacle in his young NFL career.

The 25-year-old was carted off from Tuesday’s outing of mandatory minicamp after sustaining what appeared to be a leg injury. Johnson, who had his right knee heavily wrapped, was captured exiting the practice in the following video from Vashti Hurt of Carolina Blitz:

Head coach Dave Canales was asked if the team knew the severity of the injury after the session.

“We don’t,” he replied. “We’re gonna get a look at him this afternoon, at some point. They’ll get an MRI, they’ll check everything out. So, I think it was in a special teams drill. Just really hoping for the best with that.”

Carolina traded up to last year’s 80th overall pick to select Johnson, a raw prospect out of the University of Oregon. He went on to play in just 231 defensive snaps as a rookie, amassing all of 16 tackles and zero tackles over 13 appearances.

Update (2:58 p.m. ET):

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Panthers’ 4 biggest needs entering free agency

Much of the Panthers’ 2024 offseason should be spent on helping out Bryce Young.

The Carolina Panthers are fresh off tying an NFL record for the most losses in a 17-game regular season and produced one of the most cringeworthy offenses in recent memory. So, uh, yeah—they have some work to do this offseason.

To make it a bit simpler, let’s check out their four biggest areas of need as we inch closer to free agency.

Panthers’ 2023 rookie class ranked amongst worst in NFL

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on their rookie class this past season.

Even with the No. 1 pick heading the pack, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie class fell far behind.

NFL.com analysts Eric Edholm and Chad Reuter recently ran back to the 2023 draft board and ranked last spring’s hauls. Down all the way at No. 28 are the Panthers, who received a ‘D+’ grade.

Edholm writes of first overall pick Bryce Young:

The prime disappointment was Young’s rookie season. The No. 1 overall pick started 16 games, and it was tough sledding for most of it. The environment seemed extremely unfavorable for learning on the fly, with the Panthers lacking elite weapons and cohesion on the offensive line. Carolina also fired head coach Frank Reich midseason, and it’s fair to wonder if turmoil on the coaching staff stunted Young’s growth. Tight end Hayden Hurst said after the season he thought Young had “too many voices in his head” during the trying season.

Young finished the campaign averaging 179.8 passing yards per contest with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. So, no, that’s not a lot of bang for Carolina’s big-time buck.

The Panthers didn’t get much of a return on the rest of the kids they drafted either. Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo amassed just 418 yards and no touchdowns, outside linebacker DJ Johnson had as many quarterback hits as your grandmother did, guard Chandler Zavala finished with the worst Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade (7.1) amongst all linemen with at least seven appearances and safety Jammie Robinson played in just 64 defensive snaps.

To add insult to insult, the Houston Texans—who picked behind the Panthers to start the festivities—ranked atop the list.

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Panthers left holding the bag in Christian McCaffrey trade

Last night’s NFC championship performance from 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey added even more salt to the wound for Panthers fans.

As long as you phase out what the Carolina Panthers did to get to the top of last year’s NFL draft, it’s difficult to think of a recent trade that has left more egg on the face of this franchise than their dumping of running back Christian McCaffrey.

In the middle of what was thought to be an absolutely lost 2022 campaign, the Panthers suddenly shipped off their star rusher to the San Francisco 49ers. What came back in return wasn’t too shabby of a haul—at least at first glance—as they reeled in second-, third- and fourth-round picks for 2023 and a fifth-rounder for 2024.

But what has happened with both teams since turned this deal into an inexcusable pin in Panthers history.

McCaffrey, who has now made the jump from a star in Carolina to an absolute superstar in San Francisco, just led his 49ers to the Super Bowl. Their NFC championship-winning performance was highlighted by his game-leading 132 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns.

And as for the Panthers, who could really use a fella like that for their young quarterback in Bryce Young, they’re fresh off finishing with the worst record and worst offense in all of football. Oh, and the running back they signed to a four-year, $25.4 million deal this past offseason had one of the worst seasons you’ll see from the position.

And as for the “haul” they received for McCaffrey . . .

  • 2023 61st overall pick: Traded to Chicago for the rights to the first overall pick (quarterback Bryce Young)
  • 2023 93rd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2023 132nd overall pick: Traded to Pittsburgh for the rights to the 80th overall pick (linebacker DJ Johnson)
  • 2024 fifth-round pick: TBD

The outcome of this swap has become a painful showcase of how these two very different organizations have taken two different paths over the last handful of years. While Carolina strikes out with the wrong players at the wrong times for the wrong prices, San Francisco is picking up bargains and aggressively targeting elite talent.

With the Panthers searching for answers on offense entering the 2024 season, and the 49ers having their MVP candidate and Offensive Player of the Year favorite cruise them into to the Super Bowl, the deal represents a harsh sting in the arms of fans everywhere and a grim reality on where the franchise sits.

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Best and worst PFF grades from Panthers’ 2023 season

PFF’s best and worst grades for the Carolina Panthers in 2023

Pencils down, players!

With the 2023 test officially over, let’s see which Carolina Panthers received the highest and lowest grades from Pro Football Focus.