Wonnum recorded 37 total tackles, including 4.0 sacks, defended one pass and forced one fumble across eight games in 2024.
Wonnum signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Panthers last offseason after tying his career-best sack total (8.0) with the Vikings in 2023. However, the 27-year-old missed Carolina's first nine games this season due to a lingering quadriceps injury sustained during his last season in Minnesota. Despite the limited playing time, Wonnum finished third on the Panthers' defense in sacks, tallying 26 pressures in just eight games. The South Carolina product showed flashes of brilliance throughout his appearances and is expected to serve as Carolina's top edge rusher in 2025, looking to help bolster a defense that tied for the second-fewest sacks (32.0) in the NFL this season.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Good to go against Atlanta
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Wonnum (knee/rest) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Wonnum opened the week as a DNP in order to get some additional rest due to a lingering knee issue. He ramped up his practice participation over the next two days, culminating in a full session Friday. Wonnum has logged 32 tackles (17 solo), including 4.0 sacks, one pass defense and fumble recovery across seven regular-season games.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Returns to practice Thursday
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Wonnum (knee/rest) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Wonnum was able to play through a shoulder issue during the Panthers' Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers and finished with five tackles (two solo) while playing 55 snaps (47 on defense, eight on special teams). The 2020 fourth-rounder didn't practice Wednesday due to rest and a knee issue, but his limited participation Thursday indicates that he is trending towards being available for Sunday's regular-season finale against Atlanta. In the six games since the Panthers' Week 11 bye, Wonnum has registered 26 tackles (13 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and one pass defense.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Nursing shoulder injury
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Wonnum (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Wonnum has been playing through knee and hamstring injuries over the past few weeks. He was a full participant in Tuesday's half-speed practice, but he was limited in Thursday's session due to a shoulder injury. Wonnum would avoid an injury designation heading into Sunday's NFC South clash against the Buccaneers if he were to practice fully Friday. Wonnum has logged 21 tackles (11 solo), including 3.0 sacks, and one pass defense in the five games since the Panthers' Week 11 bye.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Limited Wednesday
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Wonnum (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Wonnum played through his knee injury and served as one of the Panthers' top defensive playmakers in Sunday's loss to the Eagles, recording five total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, over 42 defensive snaps. It's likely that Wednesday's limited practice session is precautionary, but Wonnum's participation Thursday and Friday will be the best indication of whether he can suit up in Week 15, when the Panthers host the Cowboys.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Gets sack in loss
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Wonnum recorded five tackles (three solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 22-16 loss at Philadelphia.
After missing the first nine games of the season while recovering from a quadriceps surgery, Wonnum has now posted sacks in three of the Panthers' last four contests. He'll be looking to keep up the heat in Week 15 versus the pass-heavy Cowboys.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Good to go against Eagles
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Wonnum (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Wonnum opened the week with consecutive limited practices due to a knee injury. He finished strong with a full practice Friday and has done enough to be cleared to play Sunday. In his three games since returning from the reserve/PUP list in early November, Wonnum has logged 14 tackles (eight solo), including 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Nursing knee issue
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Wonnum (knee) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Wonnum was also limited at practice the Wednesday before Carolina's tilt versus the Buccaneers in Week 13, but that was due to a hamstring injury, and his knee issue looks like it's separate. If he can't manage a full practice Thursday or Friday, he'll likely go into the weekend with an injury designation.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Questionable for Week 12
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Wonnum (quadriceps) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Wonnum made his season debut in Week 10 after spending the first nine weeks of the season recovering from a quad issue. He was limited in practice Thursday but was able to practice in full Friday and should be on the right side of the questionable tag against Kansas City. In his Week 10 debut, Wonnum logged six tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a forced fumble versus the Giants.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Good to go Sunday
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Wonnum (quadricep) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants in Munich, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Activated from reserve/PUP list
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Carolina activated Wonnum (quadricep) from the reserve/PUP list Saturday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Wonnum was a full practice participant all week while in the final stages of his recovery from a procedure on his left quad that he underwent in December. He's still listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, but he appears on track to play.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Won't play vs. NOLA
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Wonnum (quadriceps) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Officially questionable for Sunday
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Wonnum (quadriceps) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Saints.
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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Downgrades to DNP on Thursday
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Wonnum (quadriceps) was listed as a DNP on the Panthers' injury report Thursday.
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 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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Not ready to practice
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Head coach Dave Canales said Monday that Wonnum (quadricep) still has to complete the "last stage" of his recovery before returning to practice, Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340 reports.
Wonnum has yet to play this season due to a left quad injury that he sustained in late December that required surgery. While Canales noted that Wonnum is coming along in his recovery, the edge rusher looks like he'll remain limited to rehab work this week rather than practicing.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Opening 2024 on PUP list
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The Panthers placed Wonnum (quadriceps) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Starts on PUP list, as expected
Rotowire
The Panthers placed Wonnum (quadriceps) on the active/PUP list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Wonnum is set to start training camp on the PUP list as he works to recover from the left quadriceps surgery he underwent in 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.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Still not recovered
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Wonnum has been dealing with some complications from his quadriceps surgery this offseason, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Wonnum underwent surgery in December to repair a torn quadriceps suffered last season, but he appears to still be on the mend. It's unclear how long he may remain sidelined and if he'll be ready for the start of training camp.
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Panthers' D.J. Wonnum: Still sidelined
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Wonnum (quadriceps) isn't participating in voluntary workouts Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Wonnum is still on the mend after surgery to repair his quadriceps, which he injured during Week 16 of last season. The South Carolina product inked a deal with the Panthers in March, so although it seems the franchise is not worried about his injury, it's not clear yet when he'll be ready to participate in the team's offseason programs.
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Vikings' D.J. Wonnum: Tallies seventh sack
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Wonnum notched five tackles (three solo) and one sack during Sunday's 3-0 win at Las Vegas.
Wonnum's sack of Aidan O'Connell forced a three and out for the Raiders, who were ultimately shut out in Minnesota's low-scoring win. While Wonnum remains off the IDP radar in most formats, he's putting together a career year at the perfect time, with free agency looming this coming offseason.
