CHARLOTTE — Tershawn Wharton remembers every detail of the three turnovers that have marked his career. An interception in the NFL and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns in college give the defensive lineman a little bit of cache when it comes to turnovers. It's why he was able to so confidently offer advice to Patrick Jones II after Thursday's practice.

"Got to tell him to tuck the ball away," Wharton offered with a laugh for the linebacker.

Jones picked off Bryce Young in the second practice of training camp, snagging the ball that came over the middle and returning it for a short distance before the offense swarmed. Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was able to pop the ball out, but the defense was too busy celebrating with Jones—a pass rusher who rarely drops into coverage—to care.

"I think he was a little surprised when he caught it, how he started running with the ball," Wharton said.

There is a lesson there to be learned, though, as Wharton said, and it's one he'll pass along soon.

"A little loose with it, I think. I think he want to go down," he offered. "I don't know if he was ready for it or not right out there."

Luckily for Jones, Wharton has ample experience with turnovers in the front seven, including an interception, and he's happy to pass along anything he's learned. His first interception in the league came in 2021 when Wharton's Kansas City Chiefs were playing the Washington Commanders. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw one low and short to his right, where Wharton was pushing through an offensive lineman.

"I pinned it to somebody's helmet. My interception kind of looked cooler," Wharton declared.

In his defense, it did in fact look cooler, even if it was less technique and more instinct. But it's not the only time Wharton has made a game-changing turnover. In college at Missouri S&T, Wharton had two separate fumble recoveries returned for a touchdown.

"One for 81 yards and then the other one for 64," Wharton quickly added.

According to Missouri S&T's historical statistics page, the score in 2018 was more like 53 yards, but we'll round up for Turk. The 81-yard return occurred in his final year, and he also set a then-school record in 2017 with 13.5 sacks, which ranked third in NCAA Division II, and 21 tackles for loss, which was seventh in the division.

"I could run a little bit," Wharton bragged of the returns for touchdowns. "One fumble recovery, one forced fumble, picked it up and went, so a little trifecta right there.

"We're always big on details. I mean like 81 yards and [53], you know, you got to get some rushing yards in there."

Suffice to say, Wharton has a bit of experience with big-man turnovers. He'll pass those lessons along to Jones soon, benefiting the entire Panthers defense in the process, something that was always the plan with these two free agents.

"It's good to see guys like Pat make plays," Wharton said. "He's new here as well, so it was just good to see him get in there."