D.J.

Wonnum

Reporters asked Canales about Panthers players who began the season on injury-related reserve lists, including Brooks, LB D.J. Wonnum, CB Dane Jackson and LB Amaré Barno. Canales responded, “We’re ramping them up... Some last couple of hurdles for them to clear before we feel like we can put them out there in practice. But they’re all really close.” Should Brooks return in Week 5, he would be roughly 10 months removed since undergoing ACL reconstruction.

Wonnum totaled eight sacks in 15 games for the Vikings last season and has now hit that mark twice in his four-year career. The former fourth-round pick will be tasked with replacing some of the sack production long-time Panther Brian Burns provided during his five-year tenure with the team, leaving him with big shoes to fill on a defense that’s been gutted throughout the week. Wonnum has a career pass rush rate of 59.4 percent and will likely work primarily as a pass rusher in Ejiro Evero’s scheme.

Though Rapoport didn’t outright say Wonnum was done for the year, he indicated as much, saying the news is “an indication he’s played his last down this season.” Wonnum has eight sacks, seven TFLs, and 62 total tackles. He tied his career-high in both sacks and TFLs in just 15 games while easily setting a high watermark in tackles. Set to enter free agency, Wonnum should earn a sizable contract coming off a breakout season.

Wonnum suffered an apparent non-contact knee injury. While attempting to rush the passer, he buckled and went to the ground before grabbing his left knee. The fourth-year EDGE defender is in the midst of a breakout season. He has eight sacks and seven TFLs. He also has a scoop-and-score touchdown to his name this season.

The FBS Comeback Player of the Year in 2019, Wonnum (6'5/258) mustered through 216 snaps with a sprained ankle as a true junior before returning and finishing his career with the ninth-most tackles for loss (29.5) in school history. Although he never eclipsed six sacks in any season as a three-year starter, his straight-line speed (4.73 40) and pounce (10'4" broad) will be coveted at the next level. He needs to primarily focus on developing more pass-rush moves if he expects to become a full-time starter at any point in his career.

The FBS Comeback Player of the Year in 2019, Wonnum (6'5/258) mustered through 216 snaps with a sprained ankle as a true junior before returning and finishing his career with the ninth-most tackles for loss (29.5) in school history. Although he never eclipsed six sacks in any season as a three-year starter, his straight-line speed (4.73 40) and pounce (10'4" broad) will be coveted at the next level. He needs to primarily focus on developing more pass-rush moves if he expects to become a full-time starter at any point in his career.

Wonnum (6'5/258) earlier logged 20 reps on the bench press and 34.5 inches in the vertical jump. His straight-line sprint was good for fifth among all defensive linemen in Indianapolis. NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein compares Wonnum to Lorenzo Mauldin.

Mauldin was a “tweener” who was taken in the third-round by the Jets in 2015 and played there three years before moving on to the CFL. Wonnum -- like Mauldin -- has similar considerations, with scouts unsure if he’ll play with his hand down or as a 3-4 rush linebacker. Zierlein lists the 6-foot-5, 254-pound defender’s strengths, including his “Quick outside-to-inside transitions with rush counter” and that he does a quality job of disengaging from blockers. The concerns come in his play speed, and whether or not he’s powerful enough as a down lineman or if he’s quick enough to stick with tight ends/running backs in coverage. At this point, it sounds like Wonnum is a Day 3 prospect.

Wonnum (6'5/260) has essentially been a four-year contributor for the Gamecocks, with the only exception being a junior year that saw him pick up injuries that limited him to five games. He’s been outstanding in 2019 with 9.5 tackles for loss 4.5 sacks, and he’s also picked up an interception and 29 total tackles in his senior campaign. He’ll definitely be a player to keep an eye on in Mobile.

“National services rated Wonnum the 1,264 player in the nation, but he developed into a play maker,” Jeyarajah writes. “Now, Wonnum will likely be a centerpiece of the front seven. Getting in-depth coaching from defensive guru Will Muschamp will only help.” The 6-foot-4, 248-pounder played in all 13 of South Carolina’s games last season, recording 32 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks in that 13-game space. This work earned him a second team All-SEC Freshman designation from Athlon Sports upon the season’s conclusion.