David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Charles Johnson, 0 sacks, still earning keep

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's Tuesday, a day off for the Carolina Panthers -- unless you're left defensive end Charles Johnson.

Johnson typically spends at least part of this day working -- often alone -- on his pass-rushing technique against the blocking sled. It's helped him collect at least nine sacks in each of the past four seasons to climb to third on the team's all-time list with 54.

But through three games this season the former Georgia star has none, in part because he's been double-teamed more with right end Greg Hardy out indefinitely after being placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved.

The earliest Hardy could return is after the bye week in mid-November, and it's more than likely he's out for the year.

With Hardy on the field, opponents had to pick their poison on who to double-team. It freed him and Johnson to combine for 49.5 sacks the past two seasons.

Mario Addison, who has helped replace Hardy the past two weeks, hasn't drawn the attention away from Johnson despite 3.5 sacks in two games.

"The hard part for Charles is he's now the bell cow," coach Ron Rivera said on Monday. "He's the guy they're all looking to. So Mario's got to continue to step up, and who knows, now all of a sudden Mario may become the focal point and give Charles a few more opportunities."

But Johnson obviously feels pressure to do more, particularly after a 37-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in which the defense was made to look average.

Although he's restructured his contract the past two years to ease the salary cap situation, he's still known as the player who in 2011 agreed to a six-year, $72 million deal.

Perhaps that explains in part this Monday tweet by Johnson, who is known as @randywattson on Twitter:

Nobody has complained that Johnson isn't working hard enough or earning his pay. Few if anybody with the Panthers works harder.

"I don't get into the money part," defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said. "He's a valuable part of this football team. He works his tail off and he's doing everything we ask him. That's all I care about."

That Johnson usually is on the practice field on Tuesdays is a testament to his work ethic.

"I've been out there jogging around the field and all of a sudden I see him come walking out," Rivera said. "He's working on his get off, he's working on his hand placement, his moves. He's been doing that from Day 1.

"But it's good to see because we need him."

This isn't the first time Johnson has gotten off to a slow start with sacks. He went sackless in his first three games in 2012, then had 3.5 in Week 4 against Atlanta en route to a career-best 12.5.

He had only one sack during the first three games of the 2010 season and finished with 11.5.

One also has to remember Johnson missed most of the preseason with a hamstring string injury.

"To me, Charles is continuing to get back in the mix," McDermott said. "[Sunday night] he took another step forward. I know you guys are probably looking at numbers. But when you look at the total package of him defending the run, he did a better job. He rushed fast. The ball was coming out fast."

And, as McDermott reminded, Addison's sack came in part because Johnson got such a good push from his side.

"It just so happens Mario gets his hand on the quarterback before Charles does," McDermott said. "Let's not overlook the good that he's doing, because he is doing some good things."

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