Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson will miss the team's final game of the season after sustaining a concussion in a car accident and being placed on the reserve/non-football injured list.
The two-car crash happened this week on Llama Street in south Charlotte. According to The AthleticAnd head coach Dave Canales told reporters that Johnson's condition, which did not require emergency medical personnel to remove him from the scene, was not life-threatening.
“We really spent the whole night and morning last night gathering information,” Canales told reporters Friday, while also acknowledging that he had not seen Johnson since the accident. “That's pretty much all I know about it. That's enough at the stage he's currently being evaluated.”
Earlier this season, Carolina backup quarterback Andy Dalton and his family (wife, three children, and dog) were involved in a car accident, and everyone in the car was removed from the scene by paramedics. There wasn't, but Mr. Dalton suffered a sprained thumb. He was inactive for the Panthers' next game against the Broncos on October 27th.
Johnson, drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2023 draft, started two games and appeared in 14 games for the Panthers this season after starting two others and appearing in 13 games as a rookie outside linebacker. Participated.
In 2024, a disastrous season for the Panthers as they started 1-7 and are now 4-12, Johnson recorded 44 total tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 1 half-sack, leading the season on defense. His snap count jumped from 29 percent last season. In 2023-2024, it will be 40%.
He also played 17 percent of Carolina's special teams snaps this season.
“I think he's definitely one of our best edge setters,” Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said of Johnson in August. According to Athlon Sports. “Sets a run-stopping edge. DJ definitely brings that physicality to the game and we need that from the guys around us. It's a physical game. That definitely helps run this league. What you need to do to quit is physical.”
The Panthers are in position to be another top-10 draft pick entering the final week of the NFL regular season and will travel to face the Falcons on Sunday after a 38-20 loss to Atlanta in Week 6.
