Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson has been placed on injured reserve/designated for return, due to a hamstring injury, according to the Panthers' official website.
Johnson will be eligible to return to the field by week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The Panthers likely saw this coming, as they traded for Jared Allen from the Chicago Bears. Allen will likely be expected to fill in for Johnson quickly, as they will definitely miss his presence.
Allen has been a dominant pass rusher in the league for more than a decade now. Last season in Chicago, Allen had 5.5 sacks and 55 combined tackles. While Allen hasn't recorded a sack yet this season, he did grab an interception in week two. Allen brings a career total of 134 sacks with him to Carolina, and that is probably just what the Panthers are looking for.
Head Coach Ron Rivera seemed excited to acquire Allen from the Bears, especially after Johnson's injury. "[Allen's] a pass rushing specialist. He plays the run very well; he's a physical guy. He's got good size, good hand strength, he rushes with violence, he doesn't just sit there and work one way or the other. He's got counter moves. We watched a lot of tape on him today to make sure this could potentially be a fit for us," said Rivera, via Black And Blue Review.
Johnson had 8.5 sacks last season and had already gotten his first sack this season. Johnson is in his ninth season with the Panthers, and without him, the Panthers will likely be counting on Allen to be putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The undefeated Panthers will play the Tampa Buccaneers this Sunday, and it will be interesting to see how Rivera uses Allen in first came with Carolina.
