CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Less than 24 hours after wide receiver Diontae Johnson said he expected to play in Sunday's game at Denver the Carolina Panthers ruled him out with a rib injury.
Asked if the decision had anything to do with keeping Johnson healthy for trade value, coach Dave Canales deferred to general manager Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis, the executive vice president of football operations.
Johnson had the same injury along with an ankle injury last week, but played in a 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. He was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason and is in the last year of his contract.