The Carolina Panthers have needed a jolt on defense seemingly all season long. And fortunately for them, they finally got one—in Week 10 out of Munich, Germany.
That jolt came in the form of a returning D.J. Wonnum, who was sidelined for the first nine weeks of the campaign due to complications from a quadriceps tear. The fifth-year outside linebacker hit a spark in his team debut, accounting for one of two sacks and five of 17 pressures in Carolina’s 20-17 win over the New York Giants.
And Wonnum’s clutch return had special meaning beyond the numbers. His performance was a justification of sorts, as he made an immediate impact following a frustrating and serious string of setbacks.
Now, he’s an important piece of the puzzle for defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his unit as they try to finish up the final stretch of the season on a strong note.
We saw that last week, when Wonnum was allowed to tee off against the New York’s offensive tackles.
Here, he does his job as the force defender with a good collision against the pulling right tackle. He then works underneath the lineman’s shoulder with hip and ankle flexion to create pressure.
I know no one asked for it, but here’s a D.J. Wonnum thread
from the #Panthers Week 10 win in Germany.
Collision vs. pulling RT and bend underneath to generate pressure on Jones. (PBU by Horn for added effects). pic.twitter.com/3LKcT0gZ9m
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) November 18, 2024
Here’s another example of Wonnum’s value as a pass rusher.
Check out the hesitation to stall the left tackle’s feet, similar to how a wide receiver may get a press-man corner’s feet stopped on split releases. This allows him to attack the outside shoulder with effort, power and explosion.
Wonnum’s sack against Giants quarterback Daniel Jones set the tone and brought a lot of energy to the Panthers defense for the rest of the game.
Failed Flea Flicker. Hesitation to step up LT. Good effort and arm-over to get after the QB. pic.twitter.com/YRsapcEMCM
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) November 18, 2024
Wonnum, like he did in his first four seasons as a Minnesota Viking, flashed some value as a run defender as well. The combination of above-average reach, explosion and speed-to-power has shown to be effective against ground attacks.
Here, Wonnum shows adequate power and explosiveness to collide with the pulling right guard, squeeze his gap and secure a stop:
Whew. Nice power at the POA from Wonnum on the pulling RG. Nice extension to squeeze and tackle for minimum gain. pic.twitter.com/SSUm0Dwpbe
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) November 18, 2024
While this showing did come against one of the weaker offensive fronts in football, it gave us a glimpse into what Wonnum can become. He still has plenty to prove in Carolina, but his progression—as evidenced by his final year in Minnesota—is real.
As crazy as it sounds, the Panthers aren’t completely out of playoff contention—even at 3-7. They’re just 2.5 games behind the NFC South lead with seven games remaining.
If they are able to somehow make a run, we could look back at Wonnum’s debut as a turning point for the Panthers and their defense.