One Ex-Viking, Now Healed, Balled Out Sunday

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The Carolina Panthers saw a swift return on investment last weekend when pass rusher D.J. Wonnum made his debut.

One Ex-Viking, Now Healed, Balled Out Sunday

Carolina has won two straight, climbing out of the NFL cellar and finding some newfound optimism with Bryce Young reclaiming his QB1 job.

Vikings
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And with Wonnum, he returned to action, making his first appearance in the NFL as a non-Viking, where he promptly thrived. Wonnum got the start in the Panthers’ win over the New York Giants in Germany, playing 50 defensive snaps and logging 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and a sack. He basically picked up where he left off on the 2023 Vikings roster before tearing his quad last year.

Wonnum also banked a commendable 74.7 Pro Football Focus grade. His career’s second chapter is off to a hot start.

The former Vikings defender joined the Panthers in March, a free-agent addition after Minnesota did not prioritize his return. Instead, the Vikings totally cleaned house at outside linebacker, jettisoning Wonnum and his teammate, Danielle Hunter, while signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, plus drafting Dallas Turner.

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Wonnum broke through to prominence last year as a Viking, taking over starting duty after Marcus Davenport missed most games. Before 2023, Wonnum was known as a situational pass rusher who oddly seemed to terrorize the Chicago Bears — and that team only. There was no explanation for it, but it was true. Now, however, Wonnum browbeats all quarterbacks, not just those playing at Soldier Field.

Too, Wonnum became adept at stopping the run, another trait not entirely evident from 2020 to 2022. He actually flipped his skillsets, according to Pro Football Focus, tallying a 68.6 run-stopping grade in 2023, with a 56.8 pass-rushing mark. We shall see if that continues in Carolina.

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Wonnum has banked 24 sacks in 63 career games, including 32 starts. He scored a memorable touchdown against the Panthers in October 2023 that helped salvage the Vikings season.

Carolina has a bye this week after topping the New Orleans Saints in Week 9 and aforementioned Giants across the pond in Germany last weekend. When it returns to action in Week 12, the test gets no easier — a home game against the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs, a club that could be hoping to achieve an 11-0 record in the Panthers’ house.

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Wonnum turned 27 on Halloween.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.