CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It was a tough week for Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson.
He missed most of practice Thursday and Friday to be with his grandmother in a Georgia hospital. Ella Johnson, 74, developed gangrene in her left foot as a result of diabetes and had to have her leg removed from the knee down.
Then, when he wasn’t put into Sunday’s game against Atlanta on a third-down play in the first half, Johnson got so upset he slammed his helmet to the ground.
Then the Panthers lost, 19-17, to the Falcons, easily the team the Georgia native wants to beat more than any other on the schedule.
"A lot of stuff going on," Johnson said. "I just want to vent."
Johnson did all he could to prevent the loss. He had a sack, six tackles and a quarterback hurry.
In the end, he couldn’t do enough, but he hasn’t given up on the season. As bad as it’s gotten with five straight losses, the Panthers (3-7-1) are still in the running for the NFC South title with Atlanta (4-6) and New Orleans (4-6) tied for the lead.
Johnson said the goal is the same as it was before Sunday -- to win.
"Always," he said. "Just go in the bye week and try to take it a game at a time."
Meanwhile, Johnson said he will take advantage of the bye week to be by his grandmother’s side.
