Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Questionable, but unlikely for Week 9
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The Panthers list Brooks (knee) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, but head coach Dave Canales said that the running back is unlikely to be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list prior to the Week 9 contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Brooks concluded his third week of practice with the Panthers on Friday after he had his 21-day evaluation window opened back on Oct. 16. He turned in a trio of full practices from Wednesday through Friday and seemingly came out of those workouts without any setbacks to his surgically repaired right knee, but the Panthers are leaning toward giving the rookie running back more recovery time before clearing him for his NFL debut. Per Newton, Canales believes that Brooks will be ready to play Week 10 against the Giants in Munich, but Carolina will first need to add the 21-year-old to its 53-man roster to make that a reality. If activated next week, Brooks is likely to be eased into action in a complementary role behind Chuba Hubbard, who has excelled as Carolina's lead back this season.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Another full practice Thursday
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Brooks (knee) practiced fully Thursday.
Brooks has been slowly but surely increasing his practice reps the past few weeks, logging non-consecutive limited sessions two weeks ago, three straight capped sessions last week and now two straight full practices this week. The Panthers have until next Wednesday to activate him from the reserve/non-football injury list, but considering his activity level so far this week, he may be on the brink of his professional debut. For his part, Brooks told Steve Reed of the Associated Press that he's getting more confident in his surgically repaired right knee with each practice, but the rookie was non-committal when asked if he'll play this Sunday against the Saints. His listing on Friday's injury report could be telling for his chances to make his debut this weekend.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Turns in full practice
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Brooks (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Brooks remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, but it's encouraging to see him practicing in full after having been listed as a limited participant in the majority of his sessions of the last two weeks. Head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that he's still undecided about whether Brooks will play Sunday versus the Saints, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Thus far, the Panthers have opted for extra caution with Brooks, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November during his final collegiate season at Texas. With Chuba Hubbard thriving as Carolina's lead back, the Panthers have the luxury of easing along Brooks, who could be headed for more of a complementary role once he's activated.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Not activated for Week 8
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Brooks (knee) was downgraded to out Saturday and will not be activated ahead of the Week 8 contest against the Broncos.
Brooks has practiced in limited fashion over the majority of the past two weeks, but the Panthers are being ultra cautious with the rookie second-round pick. Chuba Hubbard will once again get the majority of the work out of the backfield again, but the offense may struggle with Bryce Young back under center due to the injury to Andy Dalton (thumb).
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Remains limited in practice
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Brooks (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Brooks sandwiched a pair of capped practices around a scheduled day off last Thursday, so his ability to put together back-to-back limited sessions to kick off this week is a good sign for the rookie second-round pick as he gets back into football shape. The Panthers may make a ruling on his status for a Week 8 matchup in Denver on Friday's injury report, but in order for him to be available for game action, the team will need to activate him from the reserve/non-football injury list.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Brooks (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Carolina opened Brooks' 21-day practice window Wednesday, and he eventually went down as a limited participant in his first official on-field work of the season. He's nearing the end of his recovery from the torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee last November, but it's perhaps not a surprise that the Panthers aren't pushing their luck with their second-round investment. The rookie running back thus doesn't seem to be a candidate for his NFL debut Sunday at Washington, something that may be confirmed as soon as the Panthers post their final Week 7 injury report Friday.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Listed as limited in first practice
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Brooks (knee), who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list after having had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, was listed as a limited participant on Carolina's first Week 7 injury report.
Brooks, who is working his way back from an ACL tear sustained during his final collegiate season at Texas, practiced in full pads without a brace on his right knee, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers will take things a "week at a time" in terms of ramping up Brooks' activity, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press. With that in mind, Brooks doesn't look as though he'll be rushed back into action for Sunday's game against Washington. Whenever the rookie second-round pick is cleared to make his NFL debut, he'll likely be eased into the Carolina backfield mix rather than immediately usurping Chuba Hubbard as the No. 1 option.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Likely out until at least Week 3
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Panthers coach Dave Canales said Saturday that Brooks (knee) won't play in the preseason and isn't expected to make his NFL debut until Week 3 or Week 4 of the regular season, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Brooks is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered last November, though the injury didn't stop the Panthers from picking him in the second round of April's NFL Draft. There was initially some optimism that the running back could be ready to practice at the start of training camp, but it's now apparent that he will be eased along cautiously and won't suit up for any preseason contests. It's possible that Brooks will begin the campaign on the PUP list, in which case he wouldn't be eligible to play until Week 5. With Brooks set to miss at least the first three games of the regular season, Chuba Hubbard's hold on the lead back role entering Week 1 may be cemented, though it's still possible that Miles Sanders gives him competition for those duties.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Not cleared for start of camp
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The Panthers placed Brooks (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Carolina saw rookies report for the start of training camp Friday, and despite early offseason reports that Brooks would be cleared for the start of camp, he will begin on the NFI list while continuing to recover from a torn right ACL suffered last November. Of course, Brooks can be activated at any time this summer, so he could still gain clearance to practice in at least a limited capacity without missing much of camp. The rookie second-round pick has just under three weeks to prepare for the Panthers' preseason opener against New England, and when ready to practice, he figures to compete for first-team reps with Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Rashaad Penny.
