Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson carted off field at mandatory minicamp

The Carolina Panthers kicked off mandatory minicamp this week with an injury to one of the team’s young defenders. Former third-round pick D.J. Johnson suffered a right knee injury, according to Joseph Person, and was carted off the field on Tuesday. Johnson is entering his second year in the league after posting 16 tackles in 13 games played as a rookie last season.

Last season, Johnson recorded his first half-tackle for loss in an October game against the Miami Dolphins. He did it again, notching a tackle for loss, the next week against the Houston Texans.

The Panthers drafted Johnson with the No. 80 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Oregon. He was one of just five selections for Carolina in last year’s draft, along with No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Johnson will turn 26 in October.

In other injury news, the team is holding out first-round pick Xavier Legette this week. Legette is nursing a hamstring injury that also kept him out of OTAs.

Mandatory minicamp can last either two or three days, depending on head coach Dave Canales’ schedule. It will continue into Wednesday. Players who do not show up for mandatory minicamp are subject to fines from the team.

Johnson begins Year 2 with Carolina Panthers

Originally committed to Miami out of high school, Johnson saw action in eight games as a true freshman for the Hurricanes. Those appearances included the 2017 ACC Championship game against then-No. 1 Clemson, and the Capital One Orange Bowl against No. 6 Wisconsin.

Johnson transferred to Oregon before the instant transfer rules were put into place and was forced to sit out and redshirt the 2018 season in Eugene. He quickly earned a major role on the team the following season, appearing in 13 games for the Ducks and finished the season as one of two players in the country that season with at least seven tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble in a single game.

Oregon transitioned Johnson into a hybrid two-way player in 2020, keeping him on the defensive end, while also utilizing his speed on offense as a tight end and enjoyed success as one of the most versatile players in the country until transitioning back to defense after Dan Lanning took over the program.

Overall, he finished his six-year collegiate career with 67 tackles, 19.5 TFLs and 9.0 sacks across the two programs.