Charles Johnson Announces Retirement
On Wednesday, former Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL. We heard rumblings that Johnson would retire this year, but those plans were not formalized until now. 
Johnson was long considered to be one of the better pass rushers in the league. Selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2007 draft, Johnson showed flashes of promise during his first three years in the pros and broke out when he was given the chance to be a full-time starter in 2010. During the 2010 season, Johnson put up 11.5 sacks and secured a six-year, $72MM extension from Carolina the following offseason.
He mostly lived up to that payday over the early stages of the contract, as he posted 32.5 sacks during the 2011-13 seasons. He added 8.5 sacks in the 2014 campaign and, although he missed some of the 2015 season due to injury, he notched three sacks during the Panthers’ playoff run that year, including one in Super Bowl 50.
Things changed in 2017, however, after Johnson underwent back surgery. He failed to produce a sack in eleven games, and he was hit with a PED suspension in December. After the Panthers cut him earlier this year, there was no reported interest in the 32-year-old.
“Once you have back surgery, I don’t care who you are, it’s a beast to get back,” Johnson said. “My body was just… I haven’t worked out since this winter. I tried to get motivated to work out, and my body said, ‘We’re not working out right now.’ It was about that time.”
Johnson leaves the game after spending eleven season with the Panthers and registering 67.5 sacks. We wish him the best in retirement.
Panthers OT Matt Kalil Undergoes Knee Scope
Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil is week-to-week after undergoing a knee scope, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) first reported Kalil would seek a second opinion on his knee from renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
Kalil, 29, has been durable for most of his NFL tenure: while he missed 14 games with a hip injury in 2016, he’s played in all 16 games in every other season of his career. His current knee injury been hampering him during training camp, and given his week-to-week diagnosis, it’s unclear if Kalil will be available for the start of the regular season.
Carolina can ill afford to lose any more offensive linemen. After allowing left guard Andrew Norwell to defect in free agency, the Panthers saw right tackle Daryl Williams go down with a torn MCL and dislocated knee cap in July. While Carolina is hoping Williams can return in the second half of the season, that’s far from a guarantee. Meanwhile, veteran Amini Silatolu — who had been winning the battle to replace Norwell at left guard — underwent surgery for a torn meniscus earlier this month.
With three projected offensive line starters sidelined, the Panthers are going to be forced to reshuffle their front five. 2017 second-rounder Taylor Moton was already scheduled to play right tackle in relief of Williams, but he could now be forced to move to the blindside. That would open yet another hole at right tackle, where journeyman Blaine Clausell would presumably step in.
Carolina could conceivably look to the open market for reinforcements, but the list of available tackles is slim. Currently, the top options include Chris Clark, Will Beatty, Bryce Harris, and Chris Hairston, while Menelik Watson will soon join them when he’s released by the Broncos.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Kyle Bosch
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: T Leon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Bryce Jones
- Waived/injured: CB Josh Thornton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Nick DeLuca
- Placed on injured reserve: S Don Carey
- Waived/left squad: LB Brooks Ellis
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C Jacob Judd
- Claimed off waivers: RB Luke McNitt
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: WR Josh Huff
- Waived/injured: S Rickey Jefferson
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Jonah Trinnaman
Oakland Raiders
- Claimed off waivers: CB Antwuan Davis (Lions)
- Waived/injured: CB Tevin Mitchel
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived from injured reserve: S Terrell Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Matt Weiser
- Waived/injured: TE Colin Jeter
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Jeff Knox, LB Nyles Morgan, LB Deontae Skinner
- Waived: LB Brandon Chubb, LB Davond Dade, OL Matthew Diaz
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DL Tenny Palepoi
- Waived/injured: P Cory Carter
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Jason Reese
- Waived/injured: WR Fred Ross
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Marcus Cromartie
- Waived/injured: S Stefan McClure
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers: DT Adam Reth
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Harlan Miller
- Waived/Injured: CB Lou Young
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: FB Sam Rogers
- Waived/Injured: FB Zach Olstad
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Kiante Anderson
- Waived: DE Karter Schult
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Dres Anderson
- Released: DE Joby Saint Fleur
Panthers CB Donte Jackson Impressing
- Panthers rookie cornerback Donte Jackson has given head coach Ron Rivera a comfort level in the secondary he hasn’t had in two-to-three years, per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Jackson, the 55th overall selection earlier this year, stands 5’11”, 175 pounds, so he was pegged as a slot-only corner as he entered the NFL. However, Carolina has been adamant that Jackson will get an opportunity on the outside, and it’s possible the LSU product will start in Week 1. In fact, after fellow corner Ross Cockrell suffered a season-ending injury, Jackson may be the favorite to play alongside James Bradberry.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Alex Carter
- Placed on IR: S Damian Parms
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OL Leon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Quan Bray
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Kevin Peterson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers: CB De’Vante Harris
- Waived: CB Aaron Davis,
New Orleans Saints
- Waived:G Trevor Darling
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Elijah Battle, LB Jason Hall, C Marcus Henry
- Waived: FB Jalston Fowler, TE Je’Ron Hamm, LB Warren Long
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Tony Washington, LB Davond Dade, DL Francis Kallon
- Waived: LB/FB Nick DeLuca, S Joshua Kalu
Panthers To Place Daryl Williams On IR
The Panthers will place right tackle Daryl Williams on injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The hope is that Williams will be able to heal up in time to return for the second half of the season. 
[RELATED: Panthers, Tyler Larsen Agree To Extension]
Williams dislocated his right kneecap and tore the MCL in the same knee in late July. The tackle opted for rehab over surgery, but that path means that he’ll still need a fair amount of time to heal.
It’s a tough blow for a Panthers offense that will likely also be without guard Amini Silatolu to start the year. The Panthers will likely use Brandan Mahon or Tyler Larsen to fill in for Silatolu while 2017 second-round pick Taylor Moton figures to start in place of Williams.
Williams, a fourth round pick in 2015, will be a free agent after the season, so he has extra motivation to get back out on the field. The Panthers, meanwhile, will have to hope for the best while they’re without one of the game’s better tackles. Last year, Williams graded out as the 15th best overall tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
Panthers, Tyler Larsen Agree To Extension
Center/guard Tyler Larsen has agreed to a two-year, $4.4MM extension with the Panthers, Jordan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer tweets. The deal, expected to be signed on Wednesday afternoon, includes $1.4MM guaranteed. 
Larsen, 27, is an important depth piece for the Panthers, particularly in the wake of Amini Silatolu‘s torn meniscus. Undrafted rookie Brendan Mahon may start at left guard in Silatolu’s absence, but Larsen is in line for increased reps no matter what due to his ability to play guard or fill in for Ryan Kalil at center. Kalil, meanwhile, says the 2018 season will be his last, so Larsen could be a low-cost option to start in 2019.
Larsen, a Utah State product, has appeared in 23 games for the Panthers over the last two years. He did an admirable job of filling in for Kalil last year and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 17 ranked center in the NFL.
Amini Silatolu To Undergo Meniscus Surgery
Panthers left guard Amini Silatolu has a torn meniscus that will require surgery, the club announced Tuesday. Silatolu will undergo a procedure on Friday and will subsequently be evaluated on a “week-to-week basis.” Although Carolina didn’t announce a recovery timeline for Silatolu, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer indicates a four-to-six week rehabilitation period is typical for meniscus tears.
The Panthers could ill afford another blow to their offensive line, which already saw starting right tackle Daryl Williams go down with a dislocated knee and a torn MCL. Per Wilson, Williams is planning to attempt a 2018 return without undergoing surgery. Either way, Carolina’s offensive line — which ranked as a bottom-half unit in both run- and pass-blocking in 2017 before losing All-Pro left guard Andrew Norwell, per Football Outsiders — doesn’t have the depth to withstand multiple absences.
Silatolu had been competing to replace Norwell as a starting interior lineman, and had reportedly been seeing the most reps at the position. Now, undrafted rookie Brendan Mahon is the likely starter at left guard, according to Bill Voth of Panthers.com. Jeremiah Sirles and Greg Van Roten might also be candidates for increased reps, but Person reports Sirles is slotted in as a pure backup, while Van Roten has spent most of his time at center.
The 29-year-old Silatolu started three games and made 14 total appearnces for the Panthers in 2017, a season which marked his return season in Carolina. Originally a Panthers second-round pick and 15-game starter in 2012, Silatolu spent the 2016 campaign out of the NFL. He re-upped with Carolina this offseason on a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract.