NFL rookie with six fingers signs for Carolina Panthers to complete against-all-odds journey to the league

NFL rookie with six fingers signs for Carolina Panthers to complete against-all-odds journey to the league

NFL rookie JJ Weaver has signed for the Carolina Panthers, with the linebacker best known prior to his professional football arrival for having six fingers on his right hand. 

Weaver, who was born with polydactyly, a birth defect where a baby is ‘born with extra fingers on their hand or extra toes on their foot,’ per the Cleveland Clinic. 

About one in every thousand babies are born with polydactyly, with treatments differing based on where the extra digit is located. 

Weaver has six fully functioning fingers, with his gloves from his days at Kentucky made specially for his unique limb.  

Weaver was a star under Mark Stoops’ Wildcats team in the stiff compeтιтion of the Southeastern Conference for six years.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound linebacker had an extra-long stay in Lexington with a redshirt year in 2019 and being granted an additional year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Rookie JJ Weaver, who was born with six fingers on his right hand, has signed for the Panthers

Rookie JJ Weaver, who was born with six fingers on his right hand, has signed for the Panthers

Weaver played for six seasons at Kentucky before getting his NFL opportunity in Carolina

Weaver played for six seasons at Kentucky before getting his NFL opportunity in Carolina

After going undrafted, Weaver originally was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, but was waived earlier this year. 

His next chance at the NFL comes across the country in a more favorable situation, as the Panthers are an up-and-coming team looking to contend in the NFC South. 

Weaver now has an uphill battle to make the Panthers’ 53-man roster, as he has around a month until the harsh cut, with less time around his teammates and Carolina’s coaches than most. 

Yet, him impressing without making that cut could lead to future opportunities with other teams, including as a valued member of the practice squad.  

Weaver is one of three Kentucky players all time to be a captain in three separate seasons. Those leadership skills may translate to NFL success despite being born with six fingers on his right hand. 

The NFL does not have a rule on polydactyly, stating whether it gives Weaver a compeтιтive advantage, or disadvantage, as did the NCAA. 

Now, it is just a matter of time to see whether the six-finger man can stick with the Panthers. 

Related Posts

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel headlines the pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Fox reality compeтιтion Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premiers next…

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won’t ban the inhalants. The players’ union sent a memo to members…

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

The Cowboys’ offseason trade for Patriots backup Joe Milton wasn’t supposed to start a quarterback controversy in Dallas, given the status of entrenched $240 million starter Dak…

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Kansas City Chiefs тιԍнт end Travis Kelce is glad to escape the mᴀssive attention he gets as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, calling the team’s training camp a ‘sanctuary’…

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce to training camp despite being a former sworn enemy due to his vast defensive…

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss was devastating for Travis Kelce, but it was a sad night for Machine Gun Kelly as well. The musician, who grew…