New Carolina Panthers outside linebacker J.J. Weaver has a little extra help on hand.
On Friday, the team announced the addition of Weaver—a big 6-foot-5, 241-pound pass rusher from the University of Kentucky. But his measurables are even more intriguing when you account for his right hand, which has six fully-functioning fingers.
Weaver was born with polydactyly, a congenital condition that results in extra fingers or toes. The condition occurs in approximately one of every 1,000 births.
Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace, who was also teammates with Weaver at Kentucky, talked about his fellow cat on Tuesday.
“I tell everybody when he came in, ‘Hey, y’all know he got six fingers, right?'” Wallace told reporters after practice. “Everybody’s like, ‘Nah, no he don’t, no he don’t.’ He showed ’em.”
Weaver has also shown that his condition is a blessing . . .
.@UKFootball‘s J.J. Weaver was born with six fingers, but it hasn’t stopped him from playing the game he loves and inspiring those off the field.
“I’m trying to give the young kids hope.” pic.twitter.com/MUPpkFtORP
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) January 1, 2022
Over his six years in Lexington, Weaver recorded 21.5 sacks and 41 tackles for a loss.
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