Panthers Defender Suffers Knee Injury at Minicamp

Panthers' linebacker DJ Johnson suffered an apparent knee injury during the first day of mandatory minicamp. He was carted off during practice, a bad sign for a promising young player hoping to earn a starting job.

The 2023 third-round pick played sparingly last year, accumulating just 16 total tackles, but was expected to take a step forward with a reshaped Carolina defense.

Team officials haven't given an update on Johnson's status, though a cart being involved is a poor sign this early in the summer.

Panthers News: DJ Johnson Carted Off With Knee Injury at Minicamp

While the Panthers suffered through a miserable 2-15 season, the future appears bright after a stellar draft class. Johnson isn't projected to have a major role after the offseason acquisitions of Jadeveon Clowney and K'Lavon Chaisson but the coaching staff hopes he'll provide much-needed depth either way.

He played 33% of special teams snaps in his rookie campaign, showcasing the athleticism and power that made him the No. 80 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Long-term, he projects as a critical component of the Panthers' edge rotation, so there's legitimate concern about a significant injury.

We're still months away from game action. There's plenty of time for Johnson to recover if the injury is serious, though it's obviously best for his development if he can participate in the summer programs.

Johnson had six sacks in his senior season at Oregon, showing strong pass coverage skills when asked. His potential is high, and here's hoping he's able to get back on the field sooner than later.

The Panthers have mandatory minicamp until June 13 as the organization lays a foundation for improvement in the 2024-25 season. Fingers crossed Johnson's injury isn't serious and the cart was merely a precaution.

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