Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson will miss the team’s final game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend after being involved in a car crash, head coach Dave Canales confirmed Friday.
Johnson, 26, was designated as out in Friday’s injury report due to a personal matter.
Joe Burrow (9) of the Cincinnati Bengals is hit by DJ Johnson (52) of the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium Sept. 29, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The team did not elaborate, but Canales confirmed to reporters it was related to a car crash.
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“We kind of gathered information over the last, really, night and morning. There was a car accident,” Canales said.
“That’s pretty much what I know about it. Enough to the point where he’s in evaluation right now.”
Carolina Panthers linebacker DJ Johnson after a game against the Philadelphia Eagles Dec. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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A team spokesperson told The Athletic’s Joe Person Johnson was involved in a two-car accident in Charlotte Thursday and sustained a concussion. Other details about the accident were not immediately known.
Johnson was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He has 44 tackles, one quarterback hit and one fumble recovery in 14 games and two starts this season.
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The Panthers have already been eliminated from the playoffs, but Sunday is a must-win game for the Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. during the second half of a game against the Washington Commanders Dec. 29, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
A loss to the Commanders and win by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week knocked the Falcons out of the top spot in the NFC South, but a win for Atlanta and a loss by the Bucs Sunday would secure the Falcons a spot in the postseason.
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