Former Panthers WR Was a Bust for New Team This Season

After a decent 2023 season with the Carolina Panthers, the team shockingly did not re-sign veteran wide receiver DJ Chark this past offseason. Chark signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Panthers after spending the 2022 season with the Detroit Lions.

The former second-round pick was one of Carolina’s best receivers as he was third on the team in targets (66), fourth in receptions (35), second in receiving yards (525), and first in TDs (5).

With a young quarterback in Bryce Young, having Chark and Adam Thielen seemed like a good WR combo heading into 2024. 

However, this past offseason, the Panthers revamped their wide receiver core. They drafted rookie Xavier Legette and traded for veteran Diontae Johnson. Meanwhile, Chark signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. 

With the Chargers getting rid of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, Chark seemingly landed in a great situation in Los Angeles. But that never happened for the veteran wide receiver, who only played in seven games. 

The 28-year-old wide receiver was placed on injured reserve earlier this season, missing some time with a hip injury. The Chargers designated Chark to return from injured reserve in October and activated him from IR in November.

After being activated from injured reserve, the veteran receiver did not make a sizable impact on the Chargers’ passing game. Chark only had four receptions (10 targets) for 31 yards and a TD in seven games.

In his lone season with the Panthers, Chark showcased his deep threat ability, averaging 15 yards per reception, but he could not do the same in Los Angeles (7.8 yards per reception).

The Chargers could’ve used Chark’s deep-threat ability to pair alongside rookie Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston this season. Now Chark will prepare to enter free agency again, where he’ll likely have to take another one-year prove-it deal.

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