Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week before Sunday's season finale, head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday.
Johnson is now listed as “out” for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons as he continues to undergo testing.
“It was a car accident,” Canales said. 'That's pretty much what I know about it. But enough to the point that it is currently under evaluation.
The injuries have not been publicly specified, but are not believed to be life-threatening.
When asked about Johnson's condition, Canales told reporters that he “hasn't seen him.”
Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson was involved in a car accident this week before Sunday's season finale, head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday.
When asked about Johnson's status, Panthers coach Dave Canales said he “hadn't seen it.”
Johnson, a Sacramento native, attended Miami before transferring to Oregon and being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
He has started just 5 of 27 games throughout his NFL career and has just 60 combined tackles in two seasons.
Sunday's game against the Falcons is only relevant for the 4-12 Panthers in terms of draft position. With one week left, Carolina has a weak grasp on the sixth pick in the 2025 NFL Draft this April.
There remains a chance that Carolina could draft another quarterback just two years after selecting Alabama's Bryce Young first overall, but the former Heisman winner has improved slightly in 2024.
After dropping a whopping 10.53 percent of his drops in 2023, Young lowered that number to 7.65 this year, although many of his other numbers are comparable to his disappointing rookie campaign.