Panthers LB Luke Kuechly is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Saints. He still has yet to progress through the league concussion protocol after missing Week 2 with the injury that knocked him out of the opener. "He saw the doctor, but he's still in the protocol,'' HC Ron Rivera said Friday, according to ESPN.com. "We're just trying to be smart and go through the process of the protocol.'' His absence boosts the tackle upside for OLB Thomas Davis and leaves A.J. Klein as the middle starter.

Panthers LB Luke Kuechly has yet to return to the field after suffering a concussion in the win over Jacksonville. He's officially doubtful for Sunday's meeting with the Texans, so you'll need to assure alternate plans for your IDP lineup.

Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly suffered a concussion in Sunday's game against the Jaguars and will not return. We'll see if he's ready for Week 2.

Panthers LB Shaq Thompson left his 1st practice with the team Friday after "tweaking" a hamstring, according to ESPN.com. HC Ron Rivera said the team will re-evaluate the injury at the beginning of Saturday's final session of the 2-day minicamp to see if the rookie can take part. If he can't, Thompson won't get back on the field until June 16 because of University of Washington's academic quarter system. That could hurt his chances of making the starting lineup early in 2015, but Thompson's more of a long-term IDP target anyway. This shouldn't impact that at all. We'll see if the hamstring issue recurs at all this summer.

The Panthers took LB Shaq Thompson with the 25th pick of the NFL Draft. Thompson has been compared to Panthers LB Thomas Davis, who announced the pick Thursday night. Davis is also 32, with 3 ACL tears behind him. Thompson will have trouble finding IDP value right away, but he'll start on the outside for the Panthers soon and carries fantasy upside. He could be a value pick if he slides in your dynasty rookie draft.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Panthers DT Star Lotulelei will miss the rest of the playoffs (re: this weekend's game) because of a broken foot. The 2nd-year player hasn't been much of an IDP option, but his absence will undoubtedly hurt a Carolina D that has played better than most fans probably realize over the season's 2nd half. Lotulelei's injury also helps the fantasy outlook for Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch. On the team D front, Seattle's is the only unit that actually looks good for playoff leagues this week.

Panthers LB Thomas Davis hyperextended his left knee in Sunday's win over the Bucs. HC Ron Rivera told the Charlotte Observer that he expects Davis to be limited in practice Wednesday but thinks he'll be ready for Sunday's game against the Browns. “We’ll see what this week holds,” Davis said. “I got a little time between now and Wednesday to get myself healthy and get myself out there. It’s one day at a time.” As long as Davis practices this week, you can keep him in your IDP plans for Week 16.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson will play today at Minnesota despite missing practice late in the week while dealing with an illness. He had been listed as questionable but carries plenty of upside against the Vikings and will be well worth starting for most IDP owners.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson missed practice Thursday and Friday with an illness that has him questionable for Sunday's game at Minnesota. Johnson did travel with the team, however. We'll see Sunday morning if he's well enough to play. If he's active, Johnson will carry plenty of upside and remain a quality option for your IDP lineup.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson will play at Cincinnati today.  He had been listed as questionable because of a lingering hip issue, but Johnson has been playing through it.  The Bengals matchup doesn't bode well for the fantasy outlook on this boom/bust, sack-reliant IDP.

Panthers OLB Thomas Davis is inactive for today's trip to Baltimore, a week after suffering a hip injury against Pittsburgh.  Davis made a surprisingly early return to practice this week, which suggests he could return in Week 5 against Chicago.  But we'll have to watch his status in practice during the coming week.  No Davis replacement is worth sticking into your Week 4 IDP lineup.

Panthers LB Thomas Davis made a surprising return to practice Thursday.  He suffered a hip injury late in Sunday night's loss to the Steelers, and HC Ron Rivera initially said Davis would miss Wednesday and Thursday and then be re-evaluated Friday.  Davis still might miss Week 4 -- and we'd try to keep him out of IDP lineups even if he's active.  But the quick return to the practice field obviously suggests the injury isn't nearly as bad as originally feared.

The Panthers have added DE Charles Johnson to the injury report as questionable for Sunday's meeting with the Jets.  He's battling the flu.  Considering the guy just returned last week from an MCL sprain -- and returned to the game in which he sustained that injury -- we'd have to guess that he'll play.  But the knee drops Johnson way down the list of IDP options for Week 15.

The Panthers have deemed DE Charles Johnson probable for Sunday night's matchup with the Saints.  He sat out the past 2 games after suffering an MCL sprain in the win over New England but has practiced all week, including a full workout Friday.  We've bumped Johnson up the Week 14 rankings a bit on the general optimism in Charlotte, but we're still wary of using him in IDP lineups until he proves ready to produce and withstand a near-full workload.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson (MCL sprain) made his anticipated return to practice Wednesday and say's he'll play against the Saints this weekend.  “I’m still building up to (100 percent), but I’ll be good to go on Sunday,” Johnson said Wednesday, per the Charlotte Observer.  “It’s feeling good.  It’s getting stronger.  I’m just ready for Sunday."  We'll consider Johnson an IDP option for Week 14, but well below where we'd use him if healthy.  We'd bet on the team limiting his playing time at least a bit.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson tweeted Monday that he'll return to the field for Sunday night's trip to New Orleans.  Johnson missed the past 2 games after spraining his right MCL against the Patriots in Week 11.  His healthy return would certainly boost 1 of the league's top defenses in a difficult matchup.  We'll wait to see how he fares this week before projecting him as a Week 14 starter.

The Panthers have officially ruled DE Charles Johnson (MCL sprain) out for Week 13.  We've expected the move, given Johnson's continued absence from practice.  DE Mario Addison figures to draw primary snaps in place of Johnson again.

Panthers DE Charles Johnson continued to miss practice Thursday because of his sprained right MCL.  He looks unlikely to return for Sunday's matchup with the Bucs and remains a questionable option for IDP owners the rest of the way.  We'll still bet on the Panthers' D at home against Tampa, though.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera said that left DE Charles Johnson will test his sprained knee in practice Wednesday.  “Wednesday will be a big day for us, then we’ll see Thursday where he is,” Rivera told the Charlotte Observer.  “If he’s really sore then it won’t be as rosy an outlook as I’d hope. And then we’ll see. Again, we’re going to be smart."  We'll see how Johnson looks and feels in practice this week, but the smart move would seem to be keeping Johnson out at least 1 more week.  DE Mario Addison registered a sack, 3 hits and 4 hurries while playing just 35 of 67 snaps in Johnson's stead Sunday.

Panthers S Mike Mitchell said after Sunday's win at Miami that he had a lower-body injury and would have an MRI on Monday.  According to Sports Xchange's Bill Voth, DC Sean McDermott said Monday, "That's news to me."  We've seen no further report of a physical issue with Mitchell.  We'll keep an eye out for anything this week, but our best guess is that he'll be fine for Week 13 and beyond.