SPARTANBURG, S.C. – When left the Panthers following the 2009 season, a fledgling defensive end named Charles Johnson had to carry virtually the entire weight of the Panthers' pass rush.
In the two seasons following Peppers' departure, Johnson stepped into a starting role and a starring role, amassing 20.5 sacks. Each of those seasons, no teammate managed more than four sacks.
Peppers is back in the fold, and even before that electrifying offseason addition, a good amount of Johnson's burden already had been lifted. But is Johnson expected to again be a pivotal piece in the defensive end rotation – now with a weight lifted from his back in more ways than one.