Panthers RE Charles Johnson left Sunday's Week 11 game against the Bucs in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury.

Johnson collided with fellow DE Greg Hardy in the backfield and helped off the field. It had the look of a head injury. Johnson, who came into this game with 8.5 sacks on the season, was taken to the locker room for evaluation.

Charles Johnson set a Panthers record with 3.5 sacks in Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Falcons.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson admits his surgically repaired knee is still not 100 percent.

Although the date of the procedure was never revealed, GM Marty Hurney stressed in early May that it was a "very minor" arthroscopic surgery. It's a bit of a concern that Johnson isn't fully recovered, as his timetable was expected to have him ready for camp. On a positive note, Johnson says his balky back is much better.

Panthers RE Charles Johnson (knee surgery) remains on track for training camp.

Johnson was held out of minicamp as a precaution, but hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery from "very minor" surgery. Johnson has missed just one game with injury the past two seasons.

The Charlotte Observer confirms Panthers RE Charles Johnson (knee surgery) is expected to be ready for training camp.

Johnson's status for OTAs and the Panthers' mandatory June minicamp is "uncertain," but his "very minor" operation is expected to be in the rear-view mirror by camp. Set to earn $4.75 million in the second year of the six-year, $76 million deal he signed last July, Johnson has missed just one game with injury the past two seasons.

Panthers GM Marty Hurney revealed that RE Charles Johnson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this offseason.

"Very minor," Hurney stressed. Johnson also suffered a deep cut on his hand a few weeks. He may end up sitting out OTAs, but he should be ready for full participation by training camp.

Panthers RE Charles Johnson (back, doubtful) has tweeted he won't be active for Sunday's season finale.

It will be the first game Johnson has missed since signing a six-year, $76 million contract extension in July. Johnson has mostly lived up to his monster deal, tallying 42 tackles and a team-high nine sacks. He's graded out as the 17th best 4-3 defensive end by Pro Football Focus in the process.

Panthers RE Charles Johnson confirmed on Twitter Monday that the MRI on his shoulder checked out fine.

Johnson emerged from Sunday's loss with a bloodshot eye, but that's the extent of his injuries. The fifth-year pass rusher has held up his end of his $76 million deal with the Panthers this season, racking up seven sacks and grading out as a top-15 overall 4-3 defensive end, per Pro Football Focus' player ratings. PFF has Johnson 10th in the league among pass rushers at his position.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson will undergo an MRI on his back/shoulder blade after taking a big hit in Sunday's loss to the Lions.

Johnson played through the injury, but was in and out of the game for most of the afternoon. Carolina can ill-afford bad news on its best defensive player, who has twice as many sacks as any other Panther. The fact that he was able to stay in the game yesterday bodes well for his chances of suiting up in Week 12.

Coach Ron Rivera said "we're getting our money's worth" with DE Charles Johnson.

Johnson was signed to a six-year, $76 million contract in July that included $32 million in guarantees. Teammates quickly nicknamed him "Big Money." Johnson has seven sacks on the season, which ties him for sixth in the league. Ex-Panther Julius Peppers has five sacks so far.