by Sports Xchange

Updated: October 7, 2008, 1:20 AM EST

add this RSS blog email Print

Johnson, who backs up left defensive end Tyler Brayton and plays primarily on passing downs, had one sack and was robbed of another when officials ruled one play an incompletion in Carolina's 34-0 win over Kansas City on Sunday. It appeared Damon Huard was on the ground by the time he released the football. He also overran Huard on another pass rush.

"I felt like I should have had three sacks actually," said Johnson. "I cheated myself out of one and I didn't know that was an incomplete pass that they called, even though I think it was a sack."

Coach John Fox said afterward he should have asked for the play to be reviewed, not realizing at the time it was ruled an incompletion.

Regardless, Johnson looked great, finishing with four tackles, a tipped pass and a quarterback hurry.

Johnson played in only two games last year after being inactive for most of the season.

"He's coming along and learning and getting better and doing a great job," defensive end Julius Peppers said of Johnson, a third-round pick in 2007. "He still makes his mistakes every now and again, but I don't have anything but praise for him because on Sundays he keeps showing up."

Added Fox: "He did good. He got pressure. He got sacks. I thought our defense in general did a good job of creating pressure."