It looks like Charles Johnson has played his final NFL snap.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera may have let the cat out of the bag in a recent interview during minicamp, mentioning the potential retirement from the veteran defensive end when discussing the emergence of Wes Horton at the position as a leader and one of the more experienced players.

“I think the thing he’s going to have to continue to do is be a utility guy for us,” Rivera said of Horton. “I think when a guy like Charles Johnson is retiring, you have to have a guy that can replace that kind of ability. I think he’ll do a good job for us.”

Bill Voth of the team's official website followed up with a similar statement recently, saying in his most-recent edition of "Bill Grill" that he's heard Johnson is planning to retire.

As of late June, there's been no official announcement. But Johnson has also had very little reported interest on the free agent market.

Johnson did hint earlier this offseason he could soon be retiring, but that was before he was released by the only team he's ever played for. And at the time, it appeared Johnson wanted to play out his contract and give it one more season. Johnson, who will be 32 in July, dropped a tweet in January, saying he and his family are enjoying their "last offseason" together.

But the Panthers released Johnson on Feb. 26, saving $3.25 million against the cap without penalty. For the Panthers, despite everything Johnson has done for the franchise, it was a no-brainer decision.

Johnson's departure was all but expected following a lackluster 2017 season that featured a four-game suspension due to performance-enhancing substances and zero sacks and just 16 combined tackles in 12 games. Johnson was a healthy scratch for the team's playoff game in New Orleans.

He started 24 games the past two seasons for Carolina, but made minimal impact. The former 2007 third-round pick out of Georgia has spent his entire career with the Panthers. He ranks second all-time in franchise history with 67.5 sacks behind only Julius Peppers.

Some have speculated the Panthers should bring back the 11-year veteran on a team-friendly deal for the 2018 season. On the surface, it makes some sense. Since he doesn't have any leverage, Johnson would sign for cheap, and he's known as a great locker room presence, which would only help the position. But a deeper look reveals the Panthers don't have much room to add aging defensive ends who no longer produce. The team already has Julius Peppers at 38, Mario Addison and Wes Horton, and three promising youngsters in Daeshon Hall, Marquis Haynes and Bryan Cox Jr. That's six defensive ends total in itself. And with the Panthers only keeping 4-5 players at the position for the coming season, it doesn't make much sense to bring back Johnson for one last hurrah.

If this is indeed it for Johnson, he has plenty to be proud of. The longtime Panther had one heck of a career.