CHARLOTTE – The Panthers continued bolstering its receiving corps, officially signing wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. on Thursday.
Chark, 26, brings five years of NFL experience with the Jaguars and Lions to Carolina. He's the Panthers' second wideout signed during this year's free agency period, joining former Viking Adam Thielen.
Here are five things to know about Chark:
1. Holding it down in Detroit: Chark spent last season with the Lions, helping Detroit improve from a 1-6 start to a 9-8 finish in 2022 after returning from an early-season ankle injury. He caught 30 passes for 502 yards (16.7 per reception) with three touchdowns in 11 games last year, third-best on Detroit's roster behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.
2. Breakout year: Chark's best year came in Jacksonville in 2019 when he earned a Pro Bowl nod for his only season at over 1,000 receiving yards. Chark accumulated 1,008 yards on 73 receptions, both career highs, in 15 games that season, averaging 13.8 yards per catch. He also finished with a career-high eight touchdowns in one season.
3. Time with the Jaguars: Before his season with the Lions, Chark played four years in Jacksonville. The Jaguars selected him with the 61st overall pick in 2018, and he played in 11 games as a rookie, taking 11 receptions for 174 yards.
He battled through injuries in Jacksonville, and his four-year stint there ended with a trade to Detroit ahead of 2022. He finished his time there with 2,042 receiving yards on 147 catches for 15 touchdowns in 43 games.
4. "The Flash" at LSU: Chark played college football at LSU from 2014-17, playing a primary role in his last two seasons there. Chark earned his nickname, "The Flash," during his time at LSU, where he finished his career with 1,340 yards on 66 catches, averaging 20.3 yards per reception.
Chark's time at LSU overlapped with current Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson, who played for the Tigers from 2015-17, and tight end Stephen Sullivan, who played there from 2016-19.
5. Louisiana native: Chark will join Jackson, Sullivan, fellow former LSU receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and safety Xavier Woods as Louisiana natives on Carolina's current roster.
Chark, a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, attended Alexandria Senior High School. He played football and ran track. He left for the NFL before Marshall's freshman year of college, though they attended high schools under two hours apart.
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)
