Panthers' Charles Johnson expects to play Sunday

Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson hasn't been able to play for the last two weeks, after he suffered a sprained MCL against the Patriots in Week 11. Via his Twitter, Johnson expressed a belief that this week, when the Panthers travel to New Orleans, will be the week he is able to rejoin his teammates on the field.

Great game! Who's ready for the Sunday night game in the NO #iwillbetheresuitedandbooted #biggame #PantherNation
— charles johnson (@randywattson) December 1, 2013

Johnson is Carolina's leading pass rusher and Sunday's game represents their biggest challenge so far defensively, Drew Brees and an angry Saints offense fresh off a slaughter in Seattle.

The Panthers would probably need to beat the Saints both times to win the NFC South, but the first one up, in the Superdome, is arguably the biggest game of the Panthers' season. They enter New Orleans on an eight-game winning streak.

It doesn't seem like there's any way Johnson will miss this one, but it would be presumptuous to assume anything before we see how Johnson is able to participate in practice this week.





You can find me on Twitter @robsirloin. In addition to covering the NFC South, I also document the misadventures of the Cleveland Browns for Dawg Pound Daily.