The Panthers have been playing without their best defensive player for the last two weeks, and are going to have to adjust to another big loss.Panthers coach Ron Rivera just told reporters that veteran defensive end Charles Johnson would definitely miss this week and perhaps longer after aggravating a hamstring injury in yesterday’s win over the Saints.The 29-year-old defensive end is their most experienced and accomplished lineman, and the one consistent source of pass-rush they’ve had since Greg Hardy was banished one week into the 2014 season. He has 63.5 career sacks, and 41.0 of them the last four seasons.After traveling to Tampa this week, the Panthers have the week off before embarking on a grueling second quarter of their season, with a trip to Seattle followed by games against the Eagles, Colts and Packers.The Panthers will now have to count on former second-rounder Kony Ealy to become a more consistent producer, along with Wes Horton and Mario Addison. Those are the only three ends on the roster, so they’ll likely have to add a body there.But the absence of Johnson will be tough for a team already missing middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who has yet to meet with an independent neurologist after his Week One concussion. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/28/charles-johnson-to-miss-at-least-a-week-with-hamstring-injury/
