Johnson is expected to serve as the primary replacement for Chris Godwin (knee) in Sunday's game against the Panthers, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Tampa Bay will get Antonio Brown back from a lengthy absence due to an ankle sprain and a suspension, but the losses of Godwin for the season and Mike Evans (hamstring) for at least Week 16 should open up more snaps at receiver for the likes of Johnson, Scotty Miller and Justin Watson. Considering Johnson had already been playing 60-plus percent of the Bucs' offensive snaps in all but one of the team's last eight games, he's likely a better bet than Miller and Watson to absorb the larger portion of Godwin's and Evans' vacated targets. Johnson had already stepped up when the two starting wideouts exited early in last week's 9-0 loss to the Saints, finishing with four receptions for 41 yards on seven targets.
