Panthers’ Charles Johnson recovering from injury, expected to play against Saints

The Carolina Panthers likely will be without one of their defensive leaders Sunday against New Orleans, but they received some good injury news on another defensive starter.

While middle linebacker Luke Kuechly is doubtful for the Saints game with a concussion, defensive end Charles Johnson is expected to play after pulling his hamstring late in last week's win against Houston.

Johnson is listed as questionable, but Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Friday that Johnson would be in the lineup unless he has a setback.

Johnson said it's the same hamstring that caused him to miss all but one pre-season game in 2014. Johnson was bothered by a calf strain and a trapezius injury this pre-season.

Johnson, 29, said he's getting a little frustrated with the nagging injuries.

"It's all a part of the game," Johnson said. "I've just got to keep staying on top of my body.

The Panthers ruled two players out for Sunday's game.

Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was sidelined all week with a high ankle sprain, while rookie offensive tackle Daryl Williams is out two to four weeks with a sprained knee.

Rivera said the Panthers could keep four receivers active against the Saints and make No. 3 quarterback Joe Webb the de-facto fifth wideout, as they did Week 1 at Jacksonville.

If the Panthers decide to promote Brenton Bersin from the practice squad, they would need to make a roster move Saturday.

Running back Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Fozzy Whittaker (shoulder) are listed as questionable, although Rivera indicated both would play.

Decision time for defensive line

With starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei expected to return from a foot injury, the Panthers would seem to have a surplus of interior linemen.

Kyle Love and Kawann Short started at defensive tackle the first two games, with veterans Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole coming off the bench.

Lotulelei, a first-round pick in 2013, was out seven weeks after developing a stress reaction in his surgically repaired right foot at training camp. He's listed as probable for Sunday's game.

Rivera said the coaches had not decided how the rotation would shake out.

Cole, 35, the Panthers' oldest player, received the fewest reps last week among the tackles. Cole said whether he's on the active list Sunday is beyond his control.

"I don't know what is what. But I know I prepare myself to be whatever I'm called upon to be," Cole said. "That's not my decision. But I knew coming into this year I'd have to compete every day and do my best to help the team any way I can. ... Ultimately it is a situation where you can only carry so many people."

Thomas Davis fined

Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis was fined $8,681 for a hit on Texans running back Jonathan Grimes last week, a league spokesman said Friday. Davis was penalized for unnecessary roughness for his late hit on Grimes following a 5-yard completion in the first quarter.

Davis, along with cornerback Josh Norman and safety Kurt Coleman, played all 88 defensive snaps against Houston in the longest regulation game (three hours, 39 minutes) in Carolina history. After playing nearly four hours in 90-degree temperatures last week, Davis has been keeping an eye on Sunday's forecast.

"Knowing the temperature's going to be in the 70s this week is definitely a welcome feeling," he said.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Panthers’ Charles Johnson recovering from injury, expected to play against Saints."