Jacoby Windmon overcomes adversity to help Panthers  

JEFF HAWKINS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The Carolina Panthers signed linebacker Jacoby Windmon off the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad to shore up the NFL's worst defense.

New Carolina Panthers linebacker Jacoby Windmon was afraid for his NFL future.

As a redshirt junior at Michigan State in 2022, Windmon compiled an impressive first half of the season, leading the nation with six forced fumbles and collecting 5.5 sacks. 

Then came the tunnel incident at Michigan Stadium, when Windmon and teammate Khary Crump engaged in an altercation with Michigan’s Gemon Green, as several skirmishes broke out.

The incident remains an infamous moment in the often-heated Big Ten rivalry between intrastate programs. Michigan dominated Michigan State, 29-7, and the post-game mele led to seven Spartans facing legal repercussions. Charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery, Windmon, as part of an agreement with the Washtenaw County prosecutor’s office, completed a pre-trial program to clear his record.

“One moment doesn’t define you as a person,” Windmon said Thursday. “And I had to learn that.”

Panthers put out help wanted sign

The Panthers (1-5) need help. Entering Sunday’s encounter at the 4-2 Washington Commanders, the defense ranks 32nd in points allowed (203). The Panthers have surrendered 25 more points than the Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank 31st.

The Panthers’ injury-riddled unit has yielded an average of 36 points during their three-game losing streak. During a Week 6 loss at Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers’ defense allowed 423 total yards. As the injured reserve list increased its occupancy at a dizzying rate, coach Dave Canales remains confident the bewildered 3-4 base defensive unit can rebound against the Commanders and their dynamic rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.  

“Guys got to fit together, we got to play team defense and stop the plays that are there to stop,” Canales said during his post-game press conference last Sunday. “I truly believe that Ejiro [Evero, the defensive coordinator] believes it and we’re going to go right back to the film, we’re going to watch it.

 
“We’re just going to attack the fundamentals and the basics because that’s what we got. If we can just make the story as simple as that, can we get better on our fundamentals, just the basics of what we're doing and how we fit in different type of run styles. And that's the challenge for us, just keep taking the next steps and improving our football."  

With defensive stalwarts like defensive lineman Derrick Brown and inside linebacker Shaq Thompson out for the season and linebacker Josey Jewell slowed by injury, Evero continues searching for answers.   

Will Windmon help?

He’s been down before.

“Things happen and you have to navigate yourself through life,” he said.

Following the Michigan tunnel incident, Windmon served a four-game suspension and cleared up his legal problems. Most Michigan State insiders expected Windmon to seek a fresh start via transfer or lean on his midseason scouting reports and enter the NFL draft. He did neither. Feeling committed to clearing his name, Windmon returned to East Lansing.

“I wanted to personally improve the way people were viewing me,” Windmon said. “I didn’t want it to be my last image (at MSU).”

Living the NFL ‘dream’

Windmon’s return was short. In Week 3, he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury. As a football player, it was a low point.

“Felt like I couldn’t get a break,” Windmon recalled, adding: “Adversity proves who you are.”

Through it all, Windmon started living a “dream.”

Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers, his favorite team as a youngster, Windmon emerged as an offseason program standout. In three preseason games, he compiled 89 snaps and 45 on special teams. In his debut, the 6-foot-2, 250-pounder collected three tackles and earned a 90.0 grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

“It was a dream come true because the Steelers were a team I always wanted to play for,” Windmon said. “I even have pictures of me as a little kid in Steelers uniforms. They embraced me and allowed me to be myself and play ball like myself.”

Dan Morgan noticed. Eager to plug defensive holes and enhance the depth chart, the Panthers’ general manager plucked Windover from the Steelers’ practice squad last week. As such, Windmon must remain on the Panthers’ 53-man roster for at least three weeks.

With experience playing inside and out, Windmon said he was ready for his NFL audition. He said the Panthers plan to use him as the third inside linebacker, behind rookie Trevin Wallace and Jewell, who was listed as a starter on the Week 7 depth chart.

Sunday starts his time to start “showing the guys what I can do, show the coaches what I can do, earn all of their trust,” Windmon said. “For the most part, everything happened for a reason.”

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