CAROLINA PANTHERS
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton signed with the Carolina Panthers after a career season with the Kansas City Chiefs that included 6.5 sacks.
Strolling off Bank of America Stadium’s field last November, former Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn “Turk” Wharton felt relieved over his team edging the rebuilding Carolina Panthers, 30-27. Wharton was in a giving mood.
After hearing a call from the stands near the tunnel, Wharton ventured in that direction and started peeling off his glove to present as a souvenir. A youngster wearing a Chiefs Nick Bolton jersey made his way around an usher and leaned forward over a section with no guard rail. He leaned too far, falling headfirst toward the concrete below.
Acting on “natural reaction,” Wharton reached out and snared the flailing fan, averting potential injury from the near 10-foot fall. Calmly, Wharton helped push him safely back into the stands.
Among the free agent defensive reinforcements the Panthers recently signed, Wharton recalled the moment during Wednesday’s introductory video conference. He said the thankful family reached out to the Chiefs and arranged a meet-and-greet the following Sunday at Kansas City.
“He’s a big Chiefs fan,” Wharton said. “I gave him a jersey.”
What kind of helping hand will Wharton provide a historically bad Panthers’ defense?
Wharton wants to be ‘dominant’
The Panthers, who went 5-12 last season, surrendered 534 points, an NFL record. Three opponents scored at least 40 and 10 teams amassed at least 30. The injury-depleted unit yielded 3,057 rushing yards, the third-worst mark in league history and surrendered over 200 in their final six outings.
What will the 6-foot-1, 280-pound Wharton bring to the Panthers after agreeing to terms on a three-year, $54 million contract March 10? As an undersized lineman with versatility and quickness, he adds an injection of athleticism to defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s 3-4 base scheme.
The Panthers compiled an NFL-low 16.2% QB pressure rate last season.
Wharton, who compiled a career-best 6.5 sacks last season, said he often played out of position as a pass-rushing nose tackle. With Carolina, he anticipates proving “dominant” in the three technique.
Wharton said he is most comfortable lining up on the outside shoulder of opposing guards but remains confident he can help bolster a unit with a recovered Derrick Brown and free-agent signees Patrick Jones II and Bobby Brown III.
“I’m just going to bring everything I was doing [in Kansas City],” Wharton said. “Just bringing my energy and continue doing what I’ve been doing, just at a high level.”
Breakout campaign led to big deal
A 2020 undrafted free agent from Missouri S&T, Wharton overcame the small-college stigma and time lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic to forge a rotational role with one of the league’s top franchises over the past decade. Wharton said he earned his nickname “Turk” as a youth when friends joked about his “turkey legs.” It stuck.
Wharton’s breakout 2024 included career highs in solo tackles (18), stuffs (6.5) and passes defended (two). During a Week 14 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, he registered two sacks of quarterback Justin Herbert.
Wharton appeared in at least 16 regular-season games in four of his five NFL seasons and dressed for 13 playoff games, amassing 20 total tackles and four sacks.
With $30 million guaranteed as part of his contract, Wharton is viewed as a cornerstone to Carolina’s defensive rebuild.
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