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D.J. Wonnum

NFC South Notes: Brooks, Canales, Saints

November 15th, 2024 at 1:50pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is expected to make his NFL debut after Carolina’s Week 11 bye, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Brooks was activated from the reserve/non-football injury list November 6 ahead of the Panthers’ Week 10 matchup with the Giants in Germany, but he remained inactive for that game. Instead, he will have to wait even longer for his first professional snaps after being drafted by Carolina with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brooks’ debut will come against the reigning Super Bowl winners, who have held opponents to 83.2 rushing yards per game this year, the third-lowest in the league. The 21-year-old running back will likely ease into the Panthers’ game plan with teammate Chuba Hubbard ranking in the top five in rushing yards and attempts this season. With Brooks, Hubbard and Miles Sanders all signed through 2026, Carolina may consider some two-back formations to get the most out of its offense.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • Panthers owner David Tepper has made four head coaching changes since 2022, but Dave Canales is expected to keep his job despite his team’s record this year, per The Athletic’s Joseph Person. But changes on his staff could be impending with the defense allowing a league-worst 31.0 points per game and 2022 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young still struggling to develop.
  • Though Brian Burns was clearly frustrated with the lack of progress on extension talks with the Panthers, he did not force his way out of Carolina. “I never requested a trade,” said Burns, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. However, it was clear that the Panthers would not give him the $28.2MM per-year contract that he eventually signed with the Giants, per ESPN’s David Newton.
  • The Panthers needed additional salary cap space in October, so they restructured the contract of outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum. Carolina converted this year’s per game roster bonuses into a signing bonus and adding three voidable years to the end of his contract, which expires after the 2025 season, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. His 2024 salary cap hit dropped to $2.525MM with a $8.4MM cap hit in 2025.
  • The Saints are facing a key contract decision with quarterback Derek Carr, who has a $51.5MM salary cap hit in 2025 with $10MM in guaranteed salary and a $10MM roster bonus. The remaining $30MM of his salary is currently guaranteed for injury but becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap. New Orleans is already projected to be $63.8MM over the salary cap in 2025, so it may need to consider moving on from Carr to kickstart a rebuild and help its financial situation. The Saints may consider benching Carr like the Broncos did with Russell Wilson last year to make sure that he doesn’t get injured and trigger his guarantees for the 2025 season.
  • Alvin Kamara‘s recent extension includes some specific requirements for the All-Pro running back to reach his contract’s maximum value. If he does not attend 100 percent of OTAs in 2025 – something he has not done in several years – the Saints can reduce his salary by $353,000, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. If Kamara records at least 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 2026, he is eligible for a $500,000 bonus for each Satins postseason victory that year, per Terrell.

Panthers Designate Adam Thielen, Jordan Fuller To Return From IR; D.J. Wonnum In PUP-Return Window

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Sam Robinson

As the Panthers head toward another deadline as a likely seller, they will have some of their veteran pieces on the way back to action. Two Carolina cogs are in the IR-return window, while D.J. Wonnum is practicing after an extensive stay on the PUP list.

Wonnum, who suffered a quad tear late last season, is practicing for the first time in 2024. The Panthers have started the edge rusher’s 21-day activation clock. Ditto Adam Thielen and Jordan Fuller, who are back at practice after IR stays. While Thielen and Fuller are not yet on the active roster, it appears they will be again soon.

The Panthers have delivered another poor start, with the Dave Canales-Dan Morgan era already including a benching of Bryce Young. But the team figures to have some reinforcements soon. For Thielen, a return could be notable should the Panthers decide to go into fire-sale mode. Diontae Johnson has come up in trade rumors; at 34, Thielen would make sense as a trade candidate as well, especially with a hot receiver trade market.

Fuller is playing on a one-year deal in Carolina, but he did not stand out in the Panthers defense before his injury, so he’s unlikely to garner major trade interest. Instead, he’ll slot back into the starting lineup where Nick Scott has started the last four games in Fuller’s absence.

Wonnum can practice for up to three weeks before he has to be added to the active roster or reverts to season-ending injured reserve. He won’t be on the trade block since teams cannot evaluate his play this year, but his return may allow the Panthers to consider trading Jadeveon Clowney to a contender in need of pass rush help.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

Panthers Open Practice Window For Dane Jackson, Ian Thomas; Josey Jewell To Miss Time

October 2nd, 2024 at 11:52am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Panthers have opened the 21-day window for cornerback Dane Jackson and tight end Ian Thomas to return to practice after both players started the season on injured reserve, according to ESPN’s David Newton.

Carolina took advantage of the NFL’s new IR rules after Jackson’s training camp hamstring injury, using one of its two preseason IR return designations to keep him eligible for the regular season without carrying him on the team’s initial 53-man roster. The Panthers did the same with safety Sam Franklin, leaving them with six return designations for the regular season. They will use one on Thomas after a nagging calf injury forced him onto injured reserve after final roster cuts, sidelining him for the team’s first four games.

Both Jackson and Thomas now have 21 days to begin practicing with the team while still on injured reserve. After those three weeks are up, the Panthers will either have to activate them to the 53-man roster or revert them to season-ending IR.

Jackson was expected to start at outside cornerback opposite Jaycee Horn heading into the season, but his injury gave Michael Jackson a chance to secure a starting job.

Thomas, meanwhile, could be a major boost to a tight end group that has struggled to begin the year. Tommy Tremble is leading the Panthers’ TEs with six catches for 52 yards, and neither he nor rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders have a single receiving touchdown. Thomas is not known as a dynamic pass-catcher, but his prowess as a blocker will aid a Carolina rushing attack that has relied heavily on Chuba Hubbard to start the year.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced that running back Jonathon Brooks and outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum will not be designated for return this week, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Brooks is still working his way back from a November 2023 ACL tear suffered in college, while complications from last season’s quadriceps tear have delayed Wonnum’s recovery and return to the field. Brooks resides on the reserve/NFI list, Wonnum on the reserve/PUP list.

Carolina will also be without inside linebacker Josey Jewell, who will miss “a few weeks” with a hamstring and groin injury, according to Newton, joining fellow starting ILB Shaq Thompson on the sidelines as he deals with an Achilles injury. Claudin Cherelus and Trevin Wallace are the next men up at inside linebacker, with veteran Jon Rhattigan also an option further down the depth chart.

Panthers Seeking Edge Rush Addition

September 1st, 2024 at 4:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ initial roster is essentially set in advance of Week 1, but depth moves could still be forthcoming. An addition along the edge in particular would not come as a surprise.

[RELATED: Panthers Add Lonnie Johnson, Claim Three CBs]

In advance of the roster cutdown deadline, Carolina placed D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno on the reserve/PUP list. That move guaranteed both pass rushers will miss at least the first four weeks of the season, leaving the team thin on the edge. Wonnum was added in free agency and is a veteran of 31 starts dating back to his Vikings tenure. Barno has logged signficant special teams snaps during his two years in the league, but he handled a rotational defensive role last season.

With both Wonnum and Barno on the mend, the Panthers’ depth chart currently consists of Jadeveon Clowney, DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and K’Lavon Chaisson at the outside linebacker spot. Head coach Dave Canales said, via Joe Person of The Athletic, that Barno will likely be sidelined longer than the one-month minimum (subscription required). As a result, Carolina – a team which also has Tarron Jackson on the practice squad – is a prime candidate to make at least a depth addition capable of chipping in at the start of the season.

Indeed, general manager Dan Morgan confirmed (via Person) a move at the outside linebacker position is being looked into. Clowney joined the team on a two-year free agent deal, one which could provide him with a degree of stability in his career. The former No. 1 pick had a strong one-and-done campaign with the Ravens last season, matching his career best with 9.5 sacks. Since Brian Burns is no longer in the fold, production off the edge will be a key storyline for Carolina in 2024 with Clowney leading the way.

The Panthers (who, Morgan noted, do not have a firm timeline in place on Wonnum’s recovery timeline) currently sit at the bottom of the league in terms of cap space. Moves aimed at adding flexibility will be needed in the coming days to achieve cap compliance. A restructure or two should therefore be expected, but acquisition of an edge rusher should be as well. The likes of Yannick Ngakoue, Romeo Okwara and Shaq Lawson are on the open market.

Jonathon Brooks Lands On Panthers’ Reserve/NFI List; D.J. Wonnum Also Off 53-Man Roster

August 27th, 2024 at 8:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Looming as a player the Panthers were not planning on having to open the year, Jonathon Brooks will indeed remain out of the picture for the rebuilding team in September. He is shifting to the reserve/NFI list, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

Brooks went down with an ACL tear in November. Seeing as the Panthers have the second-round pick signed through 2027, they were long expected to play it safe with this draft’s first running back chosen. This leaves Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders as the Panthers’ lead backs to open the season, but Brooks is expected to be heard from later in the year.

Additionally, Carolina is sliding free agency addition D.J. Wonnum — who suffered a torn quad on the same day ex-Vikings teammate T.J. Hockenson went down — to the reserve/PUP list, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Both designations will sideline these Panthers for at least four games. Hockenson is also out for at least four games, with Minnesota transferring him to the reserve/PUP list Tuesday morning.

The Panthers traded up for Brooks in Round 2, choosing him 20 spots before any other running back went off the board. With Hubbard in a contract year and Sanders part of a disappointing Carolina 2023 free agency contingent, Brooks profiles as the clear-cut long-term option in Carolina. For now, however, the former Bijan Robinson Texas backup will continue his rehab effort.

Wonnum joined the Panthers on a two-year, $12.5MM deal but received only $1.25MM guaranteed. He will need to move onto the Panthers’ active roster to collect part of his 2024 compensation, with $2.13MM of that sum coming via per-game roster bonuses. A former Danielle Hunter sidekick in Minnesota, Wonnum still enjoyed a decent market despite the quad setback. Wonnum has two eight-sack seasons (2021, ’23) on his resume, capitalizing on Hunter’s 2021 pec tear and 2023 starter Marcus Davenport‘s recent ankle injury to produce as a quality fill-in option.

Carolina is also moving third-year pass rusher Amare Barno to the reserve/PUP list, per The Athletic’s Joe Person. The team will enter the season shorthanded on the edge, placing more pressure on the injury-prone (but frequently productive) Jadeveon Clowney to justify the two-year, $20MM deal he signed. The Panthers also added former Jaguars first-rounder K’Lavon Chaisson, but the 2020 draftee has not come especially close to justifying that investment.

It would not surprise to see GM Dan Morgan active on the waiver wire — particularly at edge rusher — as the Panthers’ 2-15 2023 showing gives them the No. 1 waiver priority. Waiver claims process at 11am CT on Wednesday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/19/24

July 19th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Friday’s minor transactions:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

New England Patriots

  • Placed on active/NFI list: LB Jontrey Hunter
  • Placed on active/PUP list: RB Terrell Jennings

Seattle Seahawks

Brooks’ appearance on this list doesn’t come as much of a shock. After suffering a torn ACL as a Longhorn last November, he is not going to be cleared for the start of camp, though he can be activated at any time. His injury is considered a “non-football injury” because it occurred before his NFL career began, otherwise he would’ve been on the PUP. Wonnum’s presence on the PUP was also not a surprise as he deals with complications from his offseason quadriceps surgery.

Everett’s appearance, on the other hand, is a bit of a surprise. To date, no injuries have been reported this offseason on the veteran tight end, leaving a bit of a mystery as to the cause of his unavailability.

Williams, who was placed on the NFI list yesterday, lasted one day before passing his physical and getting activated off the injured list. As can tend to be the case, some situations this early can be more precautionary than a tell of something more serious.

Panthers’ D.J. Wonnum Likely To Miss Time In Training Camp

June 17th, 2024 at 11:15am CST by Adam La Rose

Having moved on from Brian Burns, the Panthers will rely heavily on free agent additions Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum along the edge in 2024. The latter’s availability for training camp is in question, though.

Wonnum dealt with complications from the quadriceps surgery he underwent this offseason throughout spring workouts, as noted by The Athletic’s Joe Person (subscription required). As a result, the ex-Viking did not take part in OTAs or minicamp. Person adds Wonnum is therefore a strong candidate to open training camp on the active/PUP list.

Players who open camp with that designation can be activated at any time, and the Panthers will no doubt look to bring Wonnum into the fold as quickly as possible. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $12.5MM deal in March, and he is in line to handle starting duties on his new team. Wonnum alternated between a starting and rotational role in Minnesota, but he has flashed potential when given a notable workload (eight sacks in each of the 2021 and ’23 seasons).

Wonnum and Clowney are joined on the depth chart by the likes of K’Lavon Chaisson, Amare Barno, DJ Johnson and Eku Leota. As Person notes, Chaisson – who struggled to make an impact across four years with the Jaguars – was away from OTAs, while the others are each dealing with injury situations of their own. The group could be short on healthy bodies when training camp opens next month.

Carolina ranked last in the NFL with 27 sacks last season. With Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos (who signed with the 49ers in free agency) out of the picture, Clowney and Wonnum – if he manages to recover in time for the regular season – will lead the Panthers’ newcomers along the edge. Person does add, though, that the team could be in the market for a pass rush addition via free agency or trade, along with the waiver wire later in the offseason given the current uncertainty at that position. Carolina currently has just over $6MM in cap space, so a small move in that regard could be feasible.

Panthers To Meet With Jadeveon Clowney; Jets, Ravens Interested

March 14th, 2024 at 8:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 14: Clowney has another suitor in the Jets. The defensive lineman will visit with the Jets next week, according to Garafolo. The veteran will consider “multiple options” before making his decision. Clowney’s Jets visit is set for Tuesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

The Jets are in natural need of some reinforcement on the edge. The team lost Bryce Huff to the Eagles, opening close to 500 defensive snaps alongside Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers.

MARCH 13: Known to take his time during free agency, Jadeveon Clowney has spent the 2020s journeying the league on one-year deals. The South Carolina alum’s next trip will be in a familiar region.

The Rock Hill, South Carolina, native is set to make a trip to visit the Panthers, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. A few teams are monitoring the Clowney market; this includes the Ravens, who coaxed a quality season from the nomadic pass rusher in 2023. The Panthers are meeting with Clowney, Chase Young and D.J. Wonnum on Thursday, ESPN’s David Newton tweets.

[RELATED: Panthers Trade OLB Brian Burns To Giants]

It took Clowney until mid-August to land a deal last year, and the former No. 1 overall pick’s Baltimore pact was worth only $2.5MM. After another bounce-back season, the South Carolina alum can aim higher. Clowney has never secured a long-term deal since the expiration of his Texans rookie contract, but he has done well for himself on this bevy of one-year agreements. Though, the edge defender has never come especially close to the kind of top-market contract that once seemed in play while he was in Houston.

En route to a No. 1 defensive ranking, the Ravens received Clowney’s top sack season. Known more for an all-around game, Clowney has never reached double-digit sacks in a season. His three Pro Bowls came back in Houston. But the once-elite prospect has four seasons with at least nine sacks on his resume.

Injury issues and inconsistency have impeded Clowney on the contract front, as he was not especially productive in Seattle, Tennessee or during his second year in Cleveland. But he did total nine sacks opposite Myles Garrett in 2021 while helping a previously edge-deficient Ravens team thrive — opposite September addition Kyle Van Noy — last season. Clowney totaled 19 QB hits for the second time in three years.

The Panthers made a rather surprising decision to accept second- and fifth-round picks from the Giants to wrap their years-long Brian Burns saga. That tag-and-trade transaction leaves the Panthers with next to nothing at edge rusher, with former second-round pick Yetur Gross-Matos agreeing to a two-year, $18MM 49ers deal as well. Clowney would help, though the move would remind — to a degree, at least — of last year’s Justin Houston stopgap addition.

Mentioned as being interested in retaining Clowney earlier this week, the Ravens are again in need on the edge. Their most recent band-aid pass rushers — Clowney and Van Noy — are both free agents. While Baltimore extended Justin Madubuike on a deal that set up the big-ticket Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins contracts, the team needs to fill out its outside linebacker depth chart once again.

Panthers To Sign D.J. Wonnum

March 14th, 2024 at 3:59pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings have already lost Danielle Hunter in free agency, and his edge partner will depart Minnesota as well. D.J. Wonnum has a two-year deal in place with the Panthers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

[RELATED: Panthers Trade OLB Brian Burns To Giants]

Wonnum’s two-year deal with Carolina will be worth $12.5MM, according to Sheena Quick of 1340 Fox Sports.

The former fourth-round pick spent his entire career in Minnesota. His role fluctuated through his four years with the organization, with the edge rusher alternating between part-time player and full-time player. The 2023 campaign represented the latter, as Wonnum started 14 of his 15 appearances while appearing in more than 80 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

In each of his two seasons as a starter (including 2023), Wonnum compiled eight sacks. That performance didn’t earn him the best spot on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings in 2023. The 26-year-old ended up ranking only 74th among 112 qualifying edge defenders, although the pass-rusher did earn a surprisingly strong grade for his run defense.

The Panthers have been hunting for some depth to replace Pro Bowl defender Brian Burns, was was traded to the Giants earlier this week. The team hosted Chase Young earlier today, and they’re set to meet with Jadeveon Clowney. Wonnum will be part of the equation when it comes to Burns’ replacement, but he surely won’t be the only answer.

With Hunter and Wonnum out of the picture, the Vikings have completely revamped their pass-rushing corps. Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman are among the recent acquisitions who should get looks on the edge in 2023.

D.J. Wonnum To Visit Panthers, Bears

March 12th, 2024 at 4:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings appear poised to lose one starting edge rusher in Danielle Hunter, having made a lucrative commitment to Jonathan Greenard. Hunter’s edge partner could also soon be leaving Minnesota.

D.J. Wonnum has a free agent visit lined up with the Panthers for tomorrow, Sheena Quick of 1340AM reports. That will be followed one day later by a visit with the Bears, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Hunter has far more in the way of pedigree than Wonnum, but the latter could be set to cash in on a new deal soon.

A fourth-round pick in 2020, Wonnum has alternated between notable and complementary production. In the 2021 season, he took on a starting role for the first time and recorded eight sacks. His playing time dropped considerably the following year, though, and he saw his production fall off. A return to first-team duties ensued for 2023, and Wonnum responded by again posting eight sacks with 21 QB pressures.

The 26-year-old could thus generate a notable market for his services on a second contract. Carolina has a massive need along the edge with Brian Burns having been traded to the Giants. The Panthers have a visit lined up with Chase Young, although they are not alone in that regard.

Carolina ranked last in the league in sacks in 2023, and Chicago finished 31st. The Bears made a major move aimed at addressing their pass-rushing problems at the trade deadline, though acquiring Montez Sweat from the Commanders. He was quickly handed a monster extension, giving Chicago one foundational player on the edge. More additions could be coming, and with just over $57.5MM in cap space the Bears could outbid the Panthers or most other teams in any potential Wonnum pursuit. It will be interesting to see how many other suitors show interest in this situation.

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