D.J. WONNUM NEWS

Panthers OLB D.J. Wonnum could be key piece in season's final strech It may have taken longer than expected, but D.J. Wonnum’s Panthers debut was mighty impressive.

1 DAY AGO • USATODAY.COM

Gets sack in season debut Wonnum recorded six tackles (four solo) including 1.0 sacks and a forced fumble during Sunday's 20-17 overtime win against the Giants.

Impact Wonnum was not fooled by an attempted flea flicker in the middle of the second quarter, turning the corner on Jermaine Eluemunor to get to Daniel Jones on third down and force a punt. The forced fumble was his first since back in 2022. He'll be looking to build on Sunday's momentum after Carolina's bye in Week 11.

NOVEMBER 11 • ROTOWIRE

Post-Game One-on-One with D.J. Wonnum | Week 10 Watch Panthers reporter Kassidy Hill talk with outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum after his big defensive day in the team's 20-17 win over the N...

NOVEMBER 10 • PANTHERS.COM

D.J. Wonnum on his first game back from injury Watch the Panthers outside linebacker talk to the media after the team's 20-17 win over the New York Giants.

NOVEMBER 10 • PANTHERS.COM

Good to go Sunday Wonnum (quadricep) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants in Munich, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact He'll be suiting up for the first time this season in what will be his Panthers debut after he joined the team this offseason on a two-year, $12.5 million contract. Considering that Wonnum wasn't a full participant in practice at any point this week and is making his return from December 2023 surgery on his left quad, the Panthers could monitor his workload closely Sunday. The edge rusher tied his career high with eight sacks and recorded 62 tackles, six pass breakups and one fumble recovery over his 15 games for Minnesota in 2023.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from reserve/PUP list Carolina activated Wonnum (quadriceps) from the reserve/PUP list Saturday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Wonnum was a full practice participant all week while in the final stages of his recovery from a procedure on his left quadriceps that he underwent in December of 2023. He's still listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, but it appears the 2020 fourth-round pick will be able to suit up for that contest.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Report: Panthers DL D.J. Wonnum expected make season debut vs. Giants Edge rusher D.J.Wonnum is expected to play for the first time in almost a year on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers face the New York Giants...

NOVEMBER 9 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Questionable for Week 10 Wonnum (quadriceps) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Impact Wonnum is looking to make his season debut after spending the first nine weeks of the 2024 campaign on reserve/PUP. He got in a week of full practices ahead of Sunday's contest in Germany but also practiced in full all last week before being ruled out against the Saints. The Panthers will need to make a decision on Wonnum by Saturday afternoon.

NOVEMBER 8 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play vs. NOLA Wonnum (quadriceps) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Wonnum began the regular season on the reserve/PUP list while recovering from left quadriceps surgery that he underwent in December of 2023. Despite being a full practice participant all week, the 2020 fourth-round pick will not be activated ahead of Sunday's contest. Wonnum's next chance at making his regular-season debut will be against the Giants in Week 10.

NOVEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Officially questionable for Sunday Wonnum (quadriceps) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints.

Impact Despite Wonnum's questionable designation, head coach Dave Canales told reporters Friday that he doesn't expect the first-year Panther to suit up for Sunday's divisional matchup, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Wonnum was able to practice in full all week but has still yet to be activated to Carolina's active roster after his 21-day practice window opened Oct. 23. If the 27-year-old can't return in Week 9, expect Charles Harris to start opposite Jadeveon Clowney as the Panthers' top edge rushers.

NOVEMBER 1 • ROTOWIRE

Logs full practice Thursday Wonnum (quadriceps) was listed as a full practice participant on Thursday's injury report.

Impact Wonnum opened the regular season on the Panthers' reserve/PUP while recovering from left quadriceps surgery that he underwent in December of 2023. His 21-day practice window opened Oct. 23, and the 2020 fourth-round pick has logged consecutive full practices to open the week. If he's able to practice without limitations Friday, Wonnum has a chance of being activated off IR ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints. Across 15 regular-season games with the Vikings in 2023, Wonnum posted 62 tackles (33 solo), including 8.0 sacks, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown.

OCTOBER 31 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return Sunday Wonnum (quadriceps) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Broncos.

Impact The first-year Panther has yet to play this season due to a quadriceps injury sustained at the end of his 2023 campaign in Minnesota. However, Wonnum was designated to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, suggesting he could return as soon as Week 9. He must still be activated to the Panthers' active roster to be eligible to play next week. Expect Charles Harris to continue serving as one of Carolina's top edge rushers until Wonnum returns.

OCTOBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

3 surgeries, MRSA, blood clots: Inside the months of recovery of Panthers' DJ Wonnum DJ Wonnum signed with the Carolina Panthers this offseason to be a key part of their pass rush. He instead faced setbacks that affected ever...

OCTOBER 24 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

D.J. Wonnum: 'I'm getting real close' Panthers Outside Linebacker D.J. Wonnum talks about his return to the practice field this week.

OCTOBER 24 • PANTHERS.COM

Downgrades to DNP on Thursday Wonnum (quadriceps) was listed as a DNP on the Panthers' injury report Thursday.

Impact Wonnum has been on the Panthers' reserve/PUP list since the end of training camp while recovering from offseason surgery on his left quadriceps. The 2020 fourth-round pick has been making progress in his recovery and was able to return to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. His DNP on Thursday could just be out of precaution rather than a setback, and even if he were to return to practice Friday, it wouldn't guarantee that he would be ready to play against the Broncos on Sunday. Even if Wonnum were to suit up, he'd likely operate on a limited snap count while working on his conditioning.

OCTOBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Back at practice Wonnum (quadriceps) participated at practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Wonnum missed Carolina's first seven games of the season after undergoing surgery in the offseason, but it now seems like he's close to suiting back up ahead of Week 8. He's expected to start at outside linebacker once he's ready to play again.

OCTOBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Still not ready to return Head coach Dave Canales told reporters Monday that Wonnum (quadriceps) still has to complete the "last stage" of his recovery, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.

Impact The first-year Panther has yet to play this season due to a quadriceps injury sustained in late December of last year. It sounds like Wonnum isn't ready to return just yet, but once he moves past his injury, he's expected to line up opposite Jadeveon Clowney (shoulder) as part of the Panthers' top edge-rushing duo.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

Not ready yet to return Wonnum (quadriceps) will remain on the reserve/PUP list this week, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.

Impact Wonnum is officially able to be designated to return, after missing the minimum four games, but isn't quite healthy enough to do so yet. Quick notes that the South Carolina product is in the "final stages" of returning but has a couple of hurdles to clear before doing so.

SEPTEMBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Opening 2024 on PUP list The Panthers placed Wonnum (quadriceps) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.

Impact Wonnum missed Weeks 17 and 18 with the Vikings last season and then signed a two-year deal in free agency with Carolina. Wonnum hasn't practiced at all since signing with the team and will now miss at least the first four games of the 2024 campaign. Wonnum recorded 8.0 sacks for Minnesota last season and has 23.0 for his career.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Starts on PUP list, as expected The Panthers placed Wonnum (quadriceps) on the active/PUP list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Wonnum is set to start training camp on the PUP list as he works to recover from left quadriceps surgery undergone last December. He can be activated at any time during camp or the preseason and figures to handle a starting role at at edge rusher across from Jadeveon Clowney once back to full health.

JULY 19 • ROTOWIRE

Dave Canales says Panthers will 'be in the hunt' for NFC South title

The Panthers were the worst team in the NFL last year, but their new coach is optimistic they can compete for a division title in 2024.

MARCH 28

DJ Wonnum returns home, to the place he's always shined Panthers newest edge rusher DJ Wonnum signed here last week, wanting the chance to play again in the stadium where he's always played so wel...

MARCH 19 • PANTHERS.COM

D.J. Wonnum introductory press conference Watch Wonnum address the media for the first time as a Carolina Panther.

MARCH 18 • PANTHERS.COM

Will Panthers' massive defensive overhaul help their rebuild?

Star LB Brian Burns is one of six defensive starters gone, and four other key contributors remain unsigned. Is this all part of the plan?

MARCH 18

PHOTOS: Best of DJ Wonnum through the years View action shots of the outside linebacker throughout his NFL career.

MARCH 14 • PANTHERS.COM