Johnson didn't practice Thursday due to a rib injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Johnson was listed as a non-participant Wednesday for non-injury-related/rest reasons in addition to the rib issue, but the Panthers' latest practice reports attributes his absence Thursday only to the injury. He'll still have another chance to log some practice reps before the Panthers potentially make a decision on his availability for Sunday's game at Denver. For his part, Johnson said after Thursday's practice that he believes he'll be ready to play this weekend, per David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Sit
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Bryce Young is back under center for the Panthers this week with Andy Dalton (thumb) hurt, and Young wasn't great for Johnson early this season. In two starts with Young, Johnson had five catches for 34 yards on 12 targets and scored 4.5 PPR points or less in each outing against the Saints and Chargers. The Broncos are No. 2 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Patrick Surtain (concussion) could return in Week 8 after missing Week 7 at New Orleans. Johnson is only worth starting in three-receiver leagues.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Held to one catch
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Johnson recorded one catch on three targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 40-7 loss to the Commanders.
The Carolina offense had an abysmal performance overall, as Ja'Tavion Sanders was the only pass catcher to record more than two receptions. Despite putting up big numbers in most weeks with Andy Dalton under center, Johnson couldn't overcome his surroundings Sunday. Johnson should be safe for volume in most weeks, but given the volatile nature of the Panthers' offense, these types of showings will likely continue occasionally moving forward.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Active as expected Sunday
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Johnson (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Commanders, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
The oft-injured veteran wideout was said to be trending toward active status in reports issued earlier in the weekend, and Johnson's availability is now confirmed. As such, Johnson will continue to operate as the top on-paper target for veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton, who's helped facilitate a 24-306-3 line on 43 targets for the talented pass catcher over his first four games as the starting quarterback.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Likely to play Sunday
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Johnson (ankle) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday against the Commanders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
On top of the ankle issue, Johnson also has been dealing with hamstring and rib injuries, which caused him to miss practice Wednesday and Thursday before getting in a limited session Friday. It's unclear how close to 100 percent Johnson is, but he's trending toward being active ahead of Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. Johnson has drawn a team-leading 43 targets across four starts with Andy Dalton under center, cementing himself as a locked-in fantasy starter in most leagues.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Listed as questionable
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Johnson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Washington, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson played through an ankle injury the past two weeks but is now listed with hamstring and rib injuries as well. He was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning to limited participation at the end of the week, which gives the impression he's truly questionable ahead of a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. An absence would leave more playing time for WR Jonathan Mingo while boosting the target-share projections for nearly every other piece of Carolina's offense, including WRs Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker and TE Ja'Tavion Sanders.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Present at practice
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Johnson (ankle) is preparing to practice Friday morning, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
He'll likely be a limited participant after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday, but this nonetheless confirms Johnson is making a bid to play Sunday at Washington. He played through the same ankle injury the last two weeks, including this past Sunday when he had a 6-78-1 line on 10 targets in a 38-20 loss to the Falcons.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Missing practice again
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Johnson (ankle) isn't practicing Thursday, Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Johnson played through the same ankle injury the last two weeks, including this past Sunday when he caught six of 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown in a 38-20 loss to the Falcons. It's concerning for fantasy managers to see Johnson held out of back-to-back practices, as he managed limited participant in each session last week ahead of his strong showing against Atlanta. He may be in some danger of missing Sunday's game at Washington.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Held out of Wednesday's practice
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Johnson (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
Johnson has managed to play through his ankle injury in consecutive games, though he was limited in practice leading up to Carolina's loss to the Falcons in Week 6. The veteran wideout led the Panthers in receiving versus Atlanta, securing six of 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown while playing 89 percent of offensive snaps. Panthers head coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of the Associated Press that Johnson is expected to practice Thursday, so the 28-year-old's availability for this Sunday's game in Washington doesn't appear to be in much peril.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Leads CAR in receiving
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Johnson (ankle) finished with six receptions (10 targets) for 78 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Falcons.
Johnson suited up as expected following a bout with a minor ankle injury leading up to Sunday's contest. The veteran wideout served his usual role as the Carolina's No. 1 receiving option, leading the club in every receiving category while cashing in his third touchdown of the season. The longtime Pittsburgh Steeler has not skipped a beat since changing squads this past offseason, generating 340 yards off of 29 receptions (55 targets) through six games. Johnson makes for a fine fantasy play against a soft Washington defense next Sunday.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Limited in practice again
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Johnson (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Johnson played through the same injury and handled his normal workload in Sunday's loss to the Bears, after logging limited practices Thursday and Friday last week. He's now been a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday this week, giving him one last chance to upgrade to 'full' before Sunday's game against the Falcons.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Start
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Johnson had a down game in Week 5 at Chicago with 5.9 PPR points, which was his worst outing since Week 2 and worst performance with Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback. Johnson should get back on track this week against the Falcons, who have allowed every No. 1 receiver to score at least 13.5 PPR points this season, including three guys (DeVonta Smith, Rashee Rice and Mike Evans) to score at least 20.6 PPR points. I like Johnson as a No. 1 Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Cleared to face Chicago
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Johnson (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Chicago, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson never quite progressed to full practice participation, logging limited sessions Thursday and Friday, but the lack of an injury designation nonetheless confirms his ankle isn't a major concern. He's caught 15 of 27 targets for 205 yards and two TDs in two games since Andy Dalton took over as the starting QB, putting up big numbers against the Raiders and then Bengals. Chicago's defense should be more of a challenge, but Johnson doesn't necessarily need efficient production to be useful in fantasy, as he's accounted for 30 percent of Carolina's targets and 44 percent of the team's air yards.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Puts in limited practice
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Johnson (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Johnson took a step forward from Wednesday, when he opened the practice week as a non-participant due to the ankle issue. The wideout will look to upgrade to full activity Friday, and if he does, Johnson will likely head into Sunday's game against the Bears without an injury designation. Johnson has demonstrated a strong rapport with Andy Dalton through the latter's first two turns as Carolina's starting quarterback, stringing together a 15-205-2 receiving line on 27 targets between a Week 3 win over the Raiders and a Week 4 loss to the Bengals.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Back at practice Thursday
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Johnson (ankle) is participating in Thursday's practice, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Johnson sat out Wednesday's practice due to an ankle issue, but Panthers head coach Dave Canales offered optimism that the veteran wideout would be available Week 5. Carolina may simply be exercising caution with Johnson, who played through a groin injury Week 4. In the Panthers' last two games, both of which featured Andy Dalton under center, Johnson has combined for 15 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 27 targets. Even practicing in a limited capacity Thursday would signify an improvement for Johnson, as he works to gain clearance for Sunday's road matchup against the Bears.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Dealing with ankle issue
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Johnson didn't practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
The Panthers seem to be exercising caution with Johnson, as head coach Dave Canales relayed that the team wants to "get ahead of it" in reference to the wide receiver's health concern. Johnson's production has taken off the last two games with Andy Dalton under center, combining for 15 catches (on 27 targets) for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Considering his outsized role in Carolina's offense at the moment, his status will be one to monitor as the week goes on to get a sense of his chances to play Sunday at Chicago.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Ready for regular role
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Johnson (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Johnson had a groin injury pop up Thursday that sidelined him for practice, but he got in a limited session Friday and will be ready for action in Week 4. There doesn't seem to be any concern about his snap count or effectiveness, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that the wide receiver got extra work in with new starting quarterback Andy Dalton throughout the week. Johnson should once again serve as the focal point of Carolina's passing attack.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Questionable after limited practice
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Johnson (groin) was limited in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Johnson's absence from practice Thursday was downplayed, with Steve Reed of the Associated Press suggesting it was a precautionary measure due to a wet field. That may be true, but fantasy managers will need to monitor the situation ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff after Johnson was limited in his return to practice and given an injury designation for the game. Panthers coach Dave Canales said he's optimistic about Johnson's chance of playing, as the wide receiver looked fast during practice Friday, per Reed.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: Sits out practice with groin issue
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Johnson was added to the Carolina injury report as a non-participant in Thursday's practice due to a groin injury, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
While a mid-week addition to the injury report can often be a foreboding sign, Steve Reed of the Associated Press relays that the team considers Johnson's absence from Thursday's practice as precautionary due to the slick field conditions in Charlotte. Johnson is expected to return to practice Friday, which would alleviate most of the concern about his status heading into Sunday's game against the Bengals. With Adam Thielen (hamstring) landing on injured reserve earlier this week, Johnson could end up taking on an even greater share of the target volume in the Carolina passing game. Johnson demonstrated a strong rapport with quarterback Andy Dalton in the latter's first start in last Sunday's win over Las Vegas, registering eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets.
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Panthers' Diontae Johnson: WRs to Start
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The quarterback change in Carolina worked wonders for Johnson in Week 3 at Las Vegas, and it should be a sign of things to come. Andy Dalton, replacing Bryce Young, helped Johnson play like an elite receiver against the Raiders with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. He's going to continue being a target hog with Adam Thielen (hamstring) on injured reserve, and the Bengals have allowed the opposing No. 1 receiver to score at least 18.5 PPR points in each of the past two games with Rashee Rice and Terry McLaurin. Johnson should be considered a quality starter in all leagues in Week 4.
