Brooks (knee) said Friday that he may return to practice next week, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Brooks also acknowledged that there's not much reason to hurry him back even though he's eager to play, as the Carolina backfield has been in good hands with Chuba Hubbard, whose success perhaps limits some of the prior optimism about what Brooks might do once he plays. The rookie is talented enough to force a timeshare, or at least to push backup Miles Sanders out of the picture, and there's always some chance an injury to Hubbard creates a better opportunity. Brooks is 11 months removed from suffering an ACL tear -- an injury that didn't prevent him from being the first RB selected (46th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Practice window won't open yet
Rotowire
Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that the team won't designate Brooks (knee) to return to practice this week, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Brooks started the regular season on the reserve/non-football injury list, which makes Week 5 his earliest possible return date, but Carolina hasn't cleared the rookie second-round pick to resume practicing. Per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, Canales said Brooks is in the "final stages" of his recovery from a right ACL tear sustained in his final collegiate season at Texas that prevented him from taking part in the Panthers' offseason program. Once he's designated to return, a 21-day practice window will open for Brooks, and with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders both currently running well, the Panthers have little need to hurry the rookie along.
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Panthers' Jonathon Brooks: Likely out until at least Week 3
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
