Minnesota Vikings defensive end D.J. Wonnum Jr. is living in the Chicago Bears’ offensive backfield rent-free.
On one particular play in the first quarter on Sunday, Bears quarterback Andy Dalton was a victim of a slingshot to the heavens as Wonnum chased him deep into the backfield, wrapped him up and sent him flying. The sack officially puts Wonnum ahead of Danielle Hunter (6) as the team’s leading sack artist on the season.
Granted, Hunter suffered a season-ending pec injury in late October that has kept him out for the season. So Wonnum has been one of the players the team has counted on to step up along the defensive front.
He’s stepping up in a big way against the Bears in the season finale. Dalton looked like a man running for his life.
.@DWonnum ends that drive!
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ntK1wsJWvP
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 9, 2022
Wonnum improving as a playmaker, even if it is the last game of the season, is a welcome sight for a defense that has faced its fair share of criticism over the last few weeks.
Perhaps brighter days are ahead for a unit that could look very different next season.