When Charles Johnson returns, will Panthers sit Kony Ealy or Jared Allen?

Kony Ealy has come over the past two games, collecting a sack and forced fumble in each.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kony Ealy is giving the Carolina Panthers coaching staff a lot to think about when defensive end Charles Johnson returns in two weeks.

It was generally assumed when Johnson went on injured reserve with a designation to return for a Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas that he would step back into the starting lineup opposite right end Jared Allen.

Johnson, who returned to practice this week, probably will return as the starter.

But Ealy is playing so well that there has to be consideration for him starting opposite Johnson and Allen coming off the bench. That would be a big deal because Allen…