One of the Carolina Panthers’ newest weapons probably won’t be at their immediate disposal this offseason.
Head coach Dave Canales sat down with reporters at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Tuesday morning. When asked about his team’s pass rush, he spoke a bit about outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum—who is still recovering from a quadricep injury he sustained last season.
“I feel confident about playing with the guys we have right now,” Canales said, via Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “DJ Wonnum, I don’t want him to speak specifically about his injury and all that stuff, but he’s rehabbing. But from his play on film, this is a starting-caliber outside linebacker with the pass rush. He’s versatile. I’m really excited about him.”
Canales also stated that Wonnum—whom the Panthers signed to a two-year, $12.5 million deal—is likely to miss team organized activities (OTAs) this spring.
The 26-year-old defender tore his quad in the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 16 outing against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 27. That put an end to Wonnum’s career campaign—one in which he notched bests in combined tackles (62) and sacks (8.0).
