Panthers OLB D.J. Wonnum to start 2024 season on PUP list

As expected, D.J. Wonnum still isn’t ready for the Carolina Panthers.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the team will be placing the fifth-year outside linebacker on the physically unable to perform list to begin the regular season—his first with the organization. Wonnum has been recovering from a torn quad, an injury he sustained at the end of the 2023 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings.

Carolina signed Wonnum to a two-year, $12.5 million deal this past spring. The hope was for the 26-year-old to start alongside fellow University of South Carolina Gamecock Jadeveon Clowney, who also inked a deal with the Panthers during the offseason.

Wonnum, however, has yet to fully participate in a practice in 2024. And now, his placement on the PUP list will keep him out for at least the first four games of the campaign.

President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan commented on Wonnum’s recovery back on July 23.

“He had some things goin’ on that I really don’t want to get into here,” Morgan said. “But nothing that really set him back that much. We feel good about where he’s at right now. D.J.’s workin’ his butt off, again. So we except him to progress and we’ll see where he’s at at the end of training camp.”

Along with Wonnum, the Panthers placed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform/non-football injury list this morning.