The Panthers don’t have much going for them at the moment, but the one thing they could do is rush the passer.
Or, could.
Defensive ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy both left on the same play, taking a combined 15.0 sacks with them.
Johnson appeared to fall into Hardy, and trainers appeared to be looking at Hardy’s right knee. Both were helped to the sidelines, leaving the Panthers with rookie Frank Alexander and Nate Chandler.
Of course, as soon as they left the field, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn intercepted a pass and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown, cutting the Tampa Bay lead to 10-7.
Hardy returned to the game on the next series, but Johnson has been taken to the locker room.