Charles Johnson: Panthers to activate DE Johnson for Week 12

The Panthers will be in Dallas on Thursday, which means they’ll get to spend Thanksgiving with their former pass rushing defensive end Greg Hardy.

The Panthers will add another defensive weapon to the mix this week, as defensive end Charles Johnson was activated from injured reserve Monday.

But Rivera said getting an elite pass-rusher back on the field with fresh legs is important for a 10-0 team with an eye on the Super Bowl.

Amini Silatolu will undergo season-ending surgery after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the second half of the Panthers’ 44-16 win against Washington on Sunday.

Rivera said Johnson has looked good the past couple of weeks. “As we go forward into the stretch run we want our best players available”.

He battled off and on with hamstring problems in the preseason before re-injuring it more severely in the third game of the season against New Orleans, prompting the team to shut him down. Johnson’s return comes at a good time with defensive line mate Wes Horton suspended for four games for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. Jared Allen, acquired in a trade with Chicago when Johnson was injured, has started every game he’s been healthy for since 2005. Allen has 12 tackles and two sacks in six games and has provided a few needed veteran stability at defensive end. Silatolu was filling in at left guard for the injured Andrew Norwell, who the team hopes to have back for Thursday’s game.