CHARLOTTE — This has been an unusual season for D.J. Wonnum.

The outside linebacker is in his sixth season, a full-time starter for the Panthers, and playing a full season after being sidelined for half the year in 2024. And through 12 games (he was out for Week 4), the veteran has 0.0 sacks. Zero. None.

"I've kind of never had a season like this, just statistical wise," admitted Wonnum back in November. "There's never been like a—I've always had numbers at this point in the season."

He's right. In 2020, Wonnum's rookie season with the Vikings, he finished with 3.0 sacks. It was the lowest output of his career. The following years went: 8.0 sacks, 4.0, 8.0, 4.0, respectively. Even last season, when a leg injury and infection kept him off the field for the first half of the schedule, and he didn't suit up until Week 10, he still finished with the third most sacks on the team.

"Obviously, it's been different," laughed Wonnum. "But I mean, I'm just playing my role in the defense, and if that allows guys to free up and go make plays, then I'm winning in the end."

That can be easier said than done for a player whose entire career is based on sack numbers, at least outwardly.

"Yeah, it can be," admitted Wonnum. "But I just accepted the role, and it just is what it is."

But in the building, for those playing next to him snap after snap, they know that Wonnum's sack numbers can say whatever they want; he's helping to shape a defense that has grown in leaps and bounds this season.

"We're counting on DJ; he's done an excellent job, gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of our stunts and packages," said Canales in November.

"He's a very cerebral guy, and really playing the run tough on the edge. He sets edges for us like we count on, and then that just lets Tershawn Wharton and Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson and Bobby Brown III and those guys kind of cut it loose on the inside."

Nine Panthers players have sacks this season. Three of the top four sack-getters are linemen, including Derrick Brown, who has 4.0 from the defensive tackle spot, a position that typically does not lead a team in sacks. Three other sack getters are coming from the second level, typically thanks to lanes that have been opened for them.

It's a symphony that works because of players like Wonnum, who is ensuring he is in the right place, at the right time, setting edges that force quarterbacks into sacks, even if he isn't the one registering them.

"DJ does the dirty work, so he forces the guys to step up in the pocket. He does things that don't show up in the stat sheet. I feel that 100 percent," preached Brown on Sunday.

At no time was that more evident than on the game-winning sack fumble against the Rams in Week 13. On third-and-10, Matthew Stafford dropped back, and Wharton pushed him back up in the pocket. Brown broke through on Stafford's left side, and he had nowhere to go with Wonnum crashing down from the right.

Brown took down Stafford, swiping the ball in the process, and Wonnum picked it up for the fumble recovery that gave the Panthers the ball back. At that point, they just needed a first down to run out the clock, which they did.

"Just it kind of developed, coming around, getting high, forcing the quarterback to step up in the pocket, coming around, seeing DJ take the inside move and then washing everything down," Brown explained.

"It's one of those things where he sets the edge, the ball comes back. I mean, so he's a big part of his defense but doesn't get credit for it."

It should be noted that Wonnum has registered two tackles for loss, including one on Kyler Murray in Week 2 that took place behind the line of scrimmage, but Murray was listed as a runner on the play, meaning Wonnum didn't receive credit for a sack.

It's all part of the way Brown, Canales, and others see Wonnum affecting this defense every game, regardless of what the stat sheet may say.

"I know my time is coming, whatever it is, but as long as I'm doing my job being disruptive, being effective in the game, that's all that matters," promised Wonnum.

"I love seeing everybody eat, and that's what we're doing, everybody playing off one another. Just having fun doing it."