The tip drill is practiced by every team every year. But Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson might be going home after a long day’s work and practicing it by himself.
At the 9:37 mark of the second quarter, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson tried to make a play happen when it wasn’t there on a 2nd & 10. What was there, however, was a prepared Thompson.
Shaq Thompson with the single digit swag
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/jZnyc1iWvE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 12, 2021
The interception was the second of Thompson’s career and the first in his last five seasons. His takeaway helped set up the opening points of the game, a 22-yard field goal from Ryan Santoso.
About an hour before kickoff, the team announced that Thompson, along with fellow linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr., changed their uniform numbers. Thompson went from No. 54 to his college No. 7, with Carter going from No. 56 to No. 4.
Well, maybe it was the right move since it took him 86 games to amass one interception as No. 54. It took less than a half as No. 7 to get his second.
