CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There has been no shortage of injury news this season coming out of Bank of America Stadium, where a steady stream of players — including several at critical positions — have beat a path to the training room.
So it was a welcome change Monday for players to hear a nugget of positive news on the injury front from first-year coach Dave Canales, who said the team hoped to open the 21-day window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks to return to practice as soon as Monday. Given that the Panthers don’t practice until Wednesday afternoon, they likely will make the transaction official before then.
The Brooks update came a day after veteran tight end Ian Thomas made his season debut after missing five games with a calf injury. For a 1-5 team that has lost three games in a row, the Carolina Panthers will take all the reinforcements they can get.
“You always want all your weapons in your toolbox,” Thomas said. “So the more the guys we get back, the better. It’s a plus for us for sure.”
Getting Brooks on the field would add another element to a rushing attack that has been one of the Panthers’ strengths. Chuba Hubbard is the league’s third-leading rusher with 485 yards and ranks fifth in yards per carry (5.64). Miles Sanders doesn’t have prodigious numbers, although the change-of-pace runner scored a touchdown in the Panthers’ lone win at Las Vegas and has joined Hubbard in some two-back sets.
Dave Canales on the Panthers’ approach with Jonathan Brooks (team initially said they hoped he would be ready for start of training camp): pic.twitter.com/zsDk5YdA6h
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 14, 2024
Brooks sat behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson his first two seasons at Texas before getting his shot last fall. With six 100-yard games, Brooks ranked among the country’s top five rushers when he tore his ACL against TCU in November. Despite missing the final three games, Brooks was the first running drafted when the Panthers took him in the second round with the 46th pick.
After drafting Brooks, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said he expected him to be ready for the start of training camp. But that timeline was pushed back by nearly three months.
“We just had to take it in stride based on where he was at in his body readiness and his movement. … And we just didn’t feel like he was ready to clear some of those early stages,” Canales said. “So we just had to keep doing the smartest thing for Jonathon first and foremost. And then think about the team and where he fits into the whole picture.”
Hubbard and Brooks have distinct running styles, which Hubbard described as “very complementary.” While Hubbard is more of a downhill runner, Canales said Brooks has a “natural patience” when he has the ball, which sounds more like Sanders.
Canales added that the 6-foot, 207-pound Brooks has a combination of great traits: “Explosive ability. Combination of size and speed. Body control I thought was really rare for what we’ve seen in the past couple of years. A really fluid catcher out of the backfield, the ability to hit the home run to take it the distance.”
Given their approach to this point, don’t expect the Panthers to rush Brooks back. The Nov. 3 home game against the New Orleans Saints is a realistic target. But Hubbard is excited to see him whenever it happens.
“Me and him have created a great relationship, brotherhood. We like to joke around with each other a lot,” he said. “Happy he’s able to come back now. He’s going to be an exciting part of our offense. From his Texas film, he’s shown a lot of great, different abilities.”
Canales also offered updates on several other injured players.
• OLB Jadeveon Clowney: The veteran pass rusher is day to day after missing Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a shoulder injury. Trainers plan to test the shoulder to determine Clowney’s availability for the road game against the Washington Commanders. “We’ll take whatever percentage of J.D. that we can get to get him out there,” Canales said. “Because he certainly is a help in all phases.”
• OLB D.J. Wonnum: The 26-year-old Wonnum was the other edge rusher the Panthers signed in free agency. Wonnum’s final season in Minnesota was cut short by a quad injury that required surgery. But his recovery has been sidetracked by some unforeseen setbacks. “Wonnum’s coming along. This is another important week,” Canales said. “He still has to finish that last stage. He’s kind of been right there. So we’re waiting to just see all that come together before we put him back out on the field to see him practice.”
• CB Dane Jackson: The Panthers opened Jackson’s 21-day practice window Oct. 2, meaning they have to activate him by next week or keep him on injured reserve the rest of the season. Mike Jackson has played well in Dane Jackson’s absence. But the former Buffalo Bills corner could provide depth at a minimum. “Dane Jackson has put two fantastic weeks together. So this is a real big time,” Canales said. “He’s looked great. We’ll see if there’s a chance he can help us in some way, shape or form.”
• S Sam Franklin: The special teams standout has been cleared to return to practice after breaking his foot during one of the first training camp practices in July. The next step will be getting Franklin in football shape.
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(Photo: Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)
