CHARLOTTE — Some of DJ Chark Jr.'s best games came against the Panthers, but he's not spending much time flashing back to them.
It could be because of the way last season unraveled without him realizing how bad his situation actually was, that he's taking every opportunity he can to stay in the present.
The laughs come easily for Chark here as he gets to know new teammates (he's a sucker for a good dad joke) or walks the halls with his two children as they get a new start in a new place.
"I'm glad that I'm able to come in year one of this coaching change, this staff, being here so I can help build," Chark said during a recent trip to his new office. "But also feel like I'm on the same page with the guys, you know? Everybody is experiencing this new right now, even the guys that were currently here. So if you know you're going to be experiencing something new, I'd rather be experiencing it new with my teammates as opposed to coming into something later. So I think that's kind of what I imagined, what I envisioned when I think about Carolina right now."
The Panthers have seen firsthand what Chark is capable of. Last year with the Lions, he caught four passes for 108 yards (27.0 yards per catch). Coupled with a 2019 game with the Jaguars when he caught eight passes for 164 yards (20.5 per) and two touchdowns here, he's shown local fans how he can stretch the field.
But thinking back to last season, it's a wonder he was able to play at all. When you say a player is coming off recent ankle surgery, it can sound like the kind of routine maintenance a football player gets after a long season.
But Chark pushed through a situation last season that was worse than he knew.
In 2021, he suffered a broken ankle in Week 4 for the Jaguars, knocking him out for the rest of that year. On the other hand, it was early enough in the season that it seemed normal for him to be ready the following year. But when doctors perform surgery, they never know exactly how things are going to unfold.
Part of the hardware used in that 2021 surgery didn't mesh well with Chark's anatomy the way it was intended. That sometimes happens when you put foreign bodies in a human body. So instead of the procedure strengthening his ankle as designed, it gradually weakened the area, leading to an in-and-out season for the wide receiver after he moved on to Detroit.
"When I had the surgery, the surgical repair materials used in the surgery caused an effect on the bone, which I didn't understand at the time. We didn't know," Chark said. "So the whole training camp (in 2022 with the Lions), I'm dealing with it, it feels good, but it feels a little sore. And then after Week 3 against Minnesota, before halftime, I got tackled, and it feels like I kind of twisted my ankle a little bit. I came back the next week to practice for the upcoming week and just couldn't really run on it — I was in pain.
"So initially, we kind of thought it was like a sprain."
Instead of getting better with a normal course of treatment for a sprain, Chark would miss the next six games, and he still didn't realize the extent of the problem, but he knew he wanted to get back on the field.
"The material caused it to weaken over time, and my body didn't react to something, but I didn't know then," he said. "So I end up missing a total of six games. And I was just at the point, mentally, that I wanted to play.
"I knew I had just missed the whole season (in 2021). And I was like, no matter what, I'm going to go out there and play through the pain and tape it up. Practice every day, didn't miss a practice the remaining eight games."
Included in that stretch was his big game against the Panthers here in December on a record-cold day at Bank of America Stadium. Two weeks later, the Lions finished their season at Green Bay, but that was just Chark's first trip to the frozen tundra in January. He returned to Green Bay days later to see noted foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who repaired the issue from the previous surgery and set him back on course to be ready for the year.
Panthers coach Frank Reich said that the most recent procedure should get Chark back to his pre-injury form, which the Panthers would love to see. With a new quarterback rolling in soon, having a deep-play threat (Chark has averaged 14.4 yards per reception in his five seasons) would be an excellent complement to veteran wideout Adam Thielen, tight end Hayden Hurst, and a quality pass-catching running back in Miles Sanders.
"We're very optimistic that the procedure that he had done is going to end up to be a good story that is going to clean up the issue that he's been fighting for a couple of years and really give him the best chance to stay on the field," Reich said in March.
Chark said after consulting with Anderson, he decided to go ahead with this latest procedure, which could slow his acclimation to a new team a bit (though he's walking without a boot or any support and is looking forward to getting on the field soon). But the hope is it pays long-term dividends. While he may not be 100 percent by the start of OTAs, the expectation is that he could be doing things this offseason and be ready by training camp.
"I didn't necessarily have to have the (most recent) surgery," Chark said. "But if I want to get back to the best version of myself, and as far as health-wise, it was best to go ahead and do it.
"Now I'm in the process of recovery. Feel pretty good. I'm still working towards where I want to be, but I feel really confident in it."
Chark also feels more at home in the new offense than a new guy ought to be. He said since new Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown (formerly of the Rams) designed the playbook, and last year's Lions quarterback Jared Goff came from that same Rams system, a lot of what he's already heard in his short time with the Panthers sounds familiar.
So once he's running full speed, he's planning on hitting the ground running.
"I feel like this is something I do pretty well; I enjoy doing that," he said of the prospect of being a deep threat in a place he's already been one. "That's something that I've done pretty much my whole life. So it's good to be able to come in and obviously challenge other players to do the same.
"That's what I do. That's what brings me joy."
And now that he's on his way back to full health, he's hoping to spread that joy here, again, to a different set of fans.
DJ Chark began his career in Jacksonville where he played from 2018-21 before going to Detroit in 2022.
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates his 22-yard touchdown reception against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) receives congratulations from quarterback Jared Goff (16) after he makes a reception for a touchdown in the second half against Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) catches a 1-yard pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions' DJ Chark catches a touchdown pass in front of Minnesota Vikings' Cameron Dantzler Sr. during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) celebrate as Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) watches after Chark caught a pass for a first down late in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) runs during an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) walks off the field after defeating the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) runs a route against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) walks off the field after defeating the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark celebrates after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark watches against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason NFL football game in Detroit, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions' DJ Chark dives into the end zone for a touchdown reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) makes a reception for a touchdown in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions wide receiver DJ Chark (4) catches a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler Sr. (3) defends during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, left, looks for a way around New Orleans Saints defensive back Kurt Coleman (29) after a reception during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, runs past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) after making a reception during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) runs after catching a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, runs past Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson (34) after making a reception during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) runs a pass route during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., left, catches a pass for a touchdown as Jacksonville Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (20) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Chicago Bears cornerback Kindle Vildor (22) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars' DJ Chark Jr. reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. (17) before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) makes a catch as he is defended by Tennessee Titans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (33) and cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Jacksonville Jaguars' D.J. Chark catches a pass with Green Bay Packers' Ka'dar Hollman defending during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) makes a catch for a touchdown against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback William Jackson (22) during an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. Cincinnati won 33-25. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs a route against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark, right, catches a pass in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller for a 35-yard touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark (17) tries to get away from Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Steven Nelson (20) and defensive back Jordan Lucas (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
