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David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer
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.
“I want to do the best thing for Diontae, the best thing for the offense and continuity of what we’re trying to get done,” Canales said after Friday’s practice. “The fact that we couldn’t get him back on the field … I felt confident in the guys stepping in.”
The Panthers (1-6) also will be without wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring), who was designated for return from injury earlier in the week.
Canales called quarterback Andy Dalton, who suffered a sprained thumb in a car crash on Tuesday, a “longshot” to back up Bryce Young after saying earlier in the week the hope was Dalton would be available if something happened to Young.
That means undrafted rookie Jack Plummer is in line to back up Young, who hasn’t started since being benched after an 0-2 start
Not having Johnson or Thielen will make it more difficult for Young. Johnson leads the team in receptions with 30 for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Thielen led the team in catches a year ago but has played only three games this season after suffering the hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve.
That means Young’s top receivers will be rookie Xavier Legette (18 catches, 177 yards), Jonathan Mingo (12, 121), Jalen Coker (8, 108) and David Moore (5, 44).
“The whole thing is that the guys he’s going to be playing with on Sunday practiced with him, did a great job,” Canales said. “It was a really good week of practice in terms of the throwing and catching and rhythm.” The good news for Carolina is outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, doesn’t have a designation for Sunday and will play.
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