Patrick Jones II has transitioned from the Minnesota Vikings to the Carolina Panthers, bringing with him a focus on maintaining his personal routines and contributing to his new team’s defensive line. Despite relocating, Jones quickly found a fishing spot in the Carolinas, preserving a piece of his off-field life.
“(Fishing has) been good,” Jones remarked after a recent OTA practice. “Yeah, I found a little spot the other day, so we’re going to tap in and try to find some more spots.”
Jones’ move marks the end of his tenure with the Vikings, where he spent his initial NFL years. In Charlotte, he reunites with D.J. Wonnum, his former teammate from Minnesota’s defensive front.
“Oh yeah, I mean it’s kind of crazy because when we both got to Minnesota, we were both the younger guys in the room,” Jones said. “And just we really talk about it too, to see what we could do to be better and to use what we learn from our older vets and pass it down to our rookies.”
At 26 and 27 years old respectively, Jones and Wonnum are now among the more experienced players on their team. They aim to impart lessons learned from their early days in the league.
“Just trying to teach the young guys how to truly be a professional,” Jones explained.
The Panthers recruited Jones this spring for his ability to elevate team standards. Head coach Dave Canales praised Jones’ influence on rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen.
“Really technical, really takes a lot of the coaching,” Canales commented on Jones’ approach. “He’s focusing on… footwork… hand placement… communication… he’s an effort guy.”
Jones acknowledges last season’s struggles for Carolina’s defense but is determined to set new benchmarks for success.
“I mean, yeah, that’s something that they dealt with last year,” he stated. “We just have to set a new standard.”
