Johnson was handed a four-game suspension Friday for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Johnson's suspension will begin immediately, so he won't play in Sunday's game against the Saints and will also sit out the next three contests. That puts Johnson in line to return for the Panthers' Week 17 matchup with the Falcons, as well as any postseason action to follow. Mario Addison, Julius Peppers and Wes Horton could see heightened roles in the Panthers' defensive-line rotation while Johnson, who has just 16 tackles and no sacks on the season, is unavailable the next four weeks.