DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident and his injuries will require him to miss the Panthers season finale.
The Carolina Panthers front office is busy throughout the season with transactions, roster moves, and injury updates. Here’s what’s happening at Mint Street this week.
Injury Updates
Per the Panthers team website, the following players are on the injury report as of publication:
Panthers.com
Transactions
It was a pretty quiet week on the transactions front as the Panthers prepare to finish out their 2024 season. There were only two transactions coming from the front office, both of which involved injury statuses instead of the traditional array of signings and practice squad moves.
Placed OLB DJ Johnson on reserve/non-football injury list
This week Johnson was involved in a two-car accident that left him with a concussion, and as a result he has been moved to the non-football injury list. He reportedly did not need to be transported from the scene by medical personnel so he thankfully seems to have escaped serious injury.
Johnson was a 2023 third round pick by the Panthers. Carolina’s front office at the time consisting of GM Scott Fitterer and head coach Frank Reich, traded up from No. 93 to No. 80 to snag the edge rusher, trading away No. 132 in the fourth round to get him. (Note: The No. 132 pick became LB Nick Herbig who has 47 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and 13 QB hits in his young career.)
Johnson’s second professional season will end after 14 games with 44 tackles and half a sack, which is a solid year for a third round pick in his second season. His PFF grade of 54.2 ranks No. 153 of 205 edge rushers, so by that metric he has some improving to do as he looks now toward the 2025 season.
RB Miles Sanders designated to return to practice
Sanders second season in Carolina has played out like his first in that it was underwhelming as the former Pro Bowler played second fiddle to the emerging Chuba Hubbard. Through 10 games this year Sanders has 38 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.