DE Charles Johnson to Visit New York Giants on Sunday

Charles Johnson – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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REPORT – DE CHARLES JOHNSON TO VISIT GIANTS ON SUNDAY…
ESPN.com is reporting that free agent defensive end Charles Johnson will visit the New York Giants on Sunday. The 29-year old Johnson was released by the Carolina Panthers on March 3rd in a salary cap-related move.

Johnson was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Panthers. In his nine seasons with the Panthers, Johnson has played in 118 regular-season games with with 90 starts. From 2010-2014, he averaged 43 tackles and 10.5 sacks per year. Those numbers plummeted in 2015 when Johnson missed seven regular-season games with a hamstring injury and finished the year with 12 tackles and one sack. He had an excellent game in the Super Bowl with five tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble. Overall, Johnson accrued nine tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles in three post-season games last season.

When healthy, Johnson is a very solid left defensive end who can play the run and rush the passer. He was also a team captain and locker room leader. Before 2015, Johnson only missed three regular-season games in the previous five seasons.

“Charles has had a very good career as a Carolina Panther and I’ve enjoyed coaching him the past five seasons,” Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera said when Johnson was released. “Charles fought through adversity with his injury last season and set a great example for our locker room as a captain. I have a great deal of respect for Charles as a player and a person and thank him for all the contributions he has made to this team.”