Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson looks to be nearing a return from injury

The Rams are going into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Cam Newton with a defense ranked 11th in the NFL.

And it might be getting stronger.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson appears on track to possibly return from an ankle injury that sidelined him for two-plus games.

Johnson practiced Wednesday and presumably used Thursday, the players’ day off, to continue treatment that would aid his return.

Coach Jeff Fisher said after Wednesday’s workout that Johnson was limited only because the training staff and coaches held him back.

“He wanted more,” Fisher said. “That’ll give you some idea, so that’s encouraging.”

Johnson, a fifth-year pro, received the franchise tag during the off-season after intercepting seven passes in 2015. He is earning nearly $14 million this season.

Johnson forced an interception against Tampa Bay by colliding with a receiver as a pass arrived, allowing linebacker Mark Barron to grab the ball. Johnson intercepted a pass against the Arizona Cardinals.

Troy Hill played opposite cornerback E.J. Gaines after Johnson was injured during a game against the Buffalo Bills. Hill started in place of Johnson against the Detroit Lions and New York Giants.

The Rams lost all three games to fall to 3-4.

Hill and Gaines struggled against the Lions and then mostly played well against the Giants and a receiving corps that featured Odell Beckham Jr.

But Johnson, at 6 feet 2 inches and 208 pounds, provides size, experience and “the matchup factor,” Fisher said.

Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin is 6-5 and 245 pounds, Devin Funchess 6-4, 225.

“They’ve got big receivers and they can run,” Fisher said, “and [Johnson is] tall and he can play the ball.”

Looking for breakout

Receiver Tavon Austin has a team-best 36 receptions, two for touchdowns.

“For the most part,” he said. “I think I’ve been doing OK this year.”

But Austin, who signed a four-year, $42-million extension in August, wants to rebound from what he described as his toughest game of the season.

Austin caught a team-best 10 passes against the Giants, including one for a touchdown. But he totaled only 57 receiving yards. And a pass from quarterback Case Keenum bounced off his hands and into the arms of safety Landon Collins, who returned the interception for a touchdown.

“Mentally, I wasn’t in it,” he said of the game. “But I’ve been seeing a lot of different things towards double teams and stuff like that.”

Asked why he was not mentally into the game, Austin said, “I just know myself, and I wasn’t really into myself. No excuses.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATimesklein