The Detroit Lions added defensive end D.J. Wonnum to their roster during the 2026 free agency.

Wonnum signed a one-year deal with the Lions and will be playing in tandem alongside star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

Shortly after signing, Wonnum opened up about the serious challenge of blood clots he faced early in his career.

“Yeah, I mean, it was a tough experience just going through, you know what I'm saying, the injuries and the different setbacks that came along with that, and obviously the blood clots.”

“It kept me going, obviously, you know what I'm saying, they just showed my resilience and the blood clots were just a part of the process, I had those things, but it didn't stop me from working out.”

Wonnum’s comments highlight his resilience in overcoming blood clots, which can sideline and potentially end an athlete's career.

Before signing with Detroit, Wonnum was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with them. He later moved on to the Carolina Panthers.

Over the course of his career, he has played over 80 games, and in 2025, he recorded 19 solo tackles and 3.0 sacks. The Lions will look to Wonnum to further help their defense alongside Aidan Hutchinson.

D.J. Wonnum speaks on playing alongside Aidan Hutchinson

Brad Holmes now has Wonnum to partner with Hutchinson as a second edge rusher, as that was one of the issues that plagued the Lions the previous season.

Wonnum sounded confident that his skill set would help Hutchinson showcase his ability.

“That guy (Hutchinson), he’s relentless, man. He does everything. Gets after the passer, makes plays in the run, in the backfield. He drops in coverage now and then, but not much. My game is kind of similar, cause I’m able to rush. I feel like we’ll be able to complement each other.”

Wonnum believes that Hutchinson’s plays bring a lot more opportunities, and his presence will free up the star pass rusher.

“It creates a lot of opportunities,” Wonnum explained. “Just the elite pass-rusher and elite playmaker he is, it gets him a lot more attention in the chips, and like different things like that. I feel like what I bring will allow me to free him up at times, as well.”

Surely, Wonnum will receive a warm welcome when he steps foot on the field in the new season.

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Kalp Thaker