Diontae Johnson injury update: Latest on Panthers WR's status for Fantasy Football Week 4

The Pittsburgh Steelers traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers this past offseason. The 28-year-old wideout struggled to make an impact in the first two games of the season but had a dominant outing in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Johnson had eight receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets in Week 3. In comparison, he had a total of five receptions for 34 yards on 12 targets in the first two games of the season.

The Panthers' offense has benefited from having Andy Dalton as the quarterback instead of Bryce Young, and the team should build on that going forward.

Johnson did not practice Thursday due to a groin issue, and that had many fantasy football players concerned about the wide receiver's status for Week 4. Will he play on Sunday? Take a look at his availability status.

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Diontae Johnson injury: Will Panthers WR play in Week 4?

Diontae Johnson: Carolina Panthers v Las Vegas Raiders - Source: Getty

Diontae Johnson has himself confirmed that he will be ready to play in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals. As mentioned earlier, the Panthers offense played lights out in Week 3 against the Raiders, and having Johnson on the field is crucial to build on that.

Veteran wideout Adam Thielen is already ruled out for the game as he was placed on the injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, Johnson, along with rookie Xavier Legette, will be required to step up and help out the quarterback.

The Panthers will face a desperate Bengals team that is still searching for their first win of the season. If the NFC South franchise is able to pull off an upset on Sunday, it will send shockwaves around the league and, unfortunately, worsen Bryce Young's stock in the league.

Diontae Johnson will be a free agent after this season, and he needs to put up big numbers in order to earn a lucrative contract. As of now, it appears that having Dalton as the quarterback will help him achieve that instead of Young.

However, the sample size is very small, and the performance against the Raiders might turn out to be a fluke. As a result, the game against the Bengals will serve as a litmus test for the Panthers' offense.

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