When asked by the media about rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee), Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales did not provide the most jovial of outlooks. Specifically, Canales was asked if it was possible for Brooks not to play this year. "It could be," said the first-year head coach, "but again, we're just going to take it week to week for now, and I'm really hopeful he can stack another good week and see what we got there." It's not exactly a shining endorsement for the second-round pick, but Canales also noted that he wants to make sure he's "fully confident and ready to go" and thinks that's "another week." The door remains open for Brooks to make his NFL debut in 2024. However, it may still be a few weeks away. At 1-6, Carolina hasn't exactly been in a position to rush him.
Oct 25, 2024 9:56 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant for the second straight day this week. Brooks is making progress from a torn ACL that he suffered late last year while in college, but he's not guaranteed to be activated from the Non-Football Injury list to make his NFL debut this Sunday in Denver against the Broncos. And even if the 21-year-old is activated on Saturday and active on Sunday, he figures to be eased into Carolina's backfield alongside lead back Chuba Hubbard and veteran backup Miles Sanders. With that said, the first RB off the board in April's NFL draft should absolutely be rostered in all fantasy formats, especially now that he's nearing his NFL debut. By season's end, Brooks should have a pretty substantial role in the Panthers' backfield as long as he stays healthy.
Oct 24, 2024 3:08 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) was listed as a limited practice participant on Wednesday as the team prepares for their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Brooks had his 21-day practice window opened last week but ultimately wasn't activated from Injured Reserve to play in the Week 7 blowout loss to the Washington Commanders. The 21-year-old second-round selection is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last year in college, but he could make his debut this Sunday in Denver if he makes progress in practice this week. The RB selected in April's draft should be rostered in all fantasy formats and has the ability to demand a sizeable workload next to Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's backfield by season's end. If Brooks is active against Denver, we'd recommend keeping him on the bench as the Panthers likely ease him in.
Oct 23, 2024 8:36 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) was limited in Friday's practice but has been ruled out and won't make his NFL debut this weekend versus the Washington Commanders. Brooks made his return to practice for the first time this year on Wednesday while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered last November while playing in college at Texas, so the 21-year-old wasn't realistically expected to play in Week 7. However, the 46th overall pick in this year's draft (the first RB off the board), could become a big part of Carolina's backfield alongside Chuba Hubbard later this year once he gets up to speed. Brooks will need to make more progress in practice next week to have a shot to make his debut for the Panthers in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. He's worth stashing in all fantasy leagues.
Oct 18, 2024 1:10 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) did not practice on Thursday following his limited practice session on Wednesday. The rookie out of Texas had his practice window opened this week, but the belief is he will not make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. Brooks is coming off a torn ACL, and with the Panthers sitting a 1-5 through Week 6, there's no reason to rush him into action. Additionally, Chuba Hubbard has been excellent in the RB1 role, so the team isn't in dire need of running back production. Fantasy managers should follow his status through the rest of the week, but a Week 8 or Week 9 return seems more realistic for the first RB taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Oct 17, 2024 2:55 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is practicing for the first time this season following the team opening his practice window earlier this week. The Texas product has missed the first six games of his rookie season following an ACL tear in November of last year, but he is trending toward making his NFL debut soon. Brooks was selected as the first running back off the board in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft after his final collegiate season which saw him post over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in just 10 games. He should be expected to be involved in Carolina's offense when he is activated to the gameday roster, but there is speculation that he could have to wait until Week 8 or 9 to play in his first game at the NFL level. Fantasy managers with Brooks stashed should monitor his status, but it would be surprising if he plays against the Commanders in Week 7. For now, Chuba Hubbard remains a strong starting option in fantasy lineups.
Oct 16, 2024 2:07 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers are opening running back Jonathon Brooks' (knee) practice window this week, but according to Joe Person of The Athletic, the team is likely not going to rush him into game action. Person said a Week 9 return for the home game against the New Orleans Saints is a "realistic target" for Brooks to begin his NFL career. The organization knew Brooks would not be ready to start his rookie season following a late 2023 ACL tear at Texas, and Chuba Hubbard has been excellent as the lead back thus far. Carolina is far from a Super Bowl or playoff contender, so they will likely play it safe with Brooks. When Brooks returns, he'll likely share touches with Hubbard and be eased into action, but hopefully, he'll be a flex-worthy fantasy football option late in the season and for the fantasy football playoffs. Managers who are stashing him will likely have to wait a bit longer for him to make an impact.
Oct 15, 2024 2:58 PM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales discussed Jonathon Brooks' (ACL) role in the backfield, stating, "We'll have to see that. We'll have to see that come to life and see what he looks like in practice." Brooks, who tore his ACL while at Texas last season, was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp as a second-round pick. Canales refrained from speculating on Brooks' potential role, emphasizing the importance of first evaluating his performance in practice. In the meantime, fourth-year running back Chuba Hubbard has stepped up as the team's lead back, boasting 86 carries for 485 yards and two touchdowns. It will be intriguing to see how the distribution of carries changes once Brooks is back in game shape. Additionally, there are rumors that Hubbard could be on the trade block, as the Panthers, currently with only one win in the 2024 season, may be looking to sell. The running back situation in Carolina remains interesting to monitor for fantasy, especially since Andy Dalton took over as quarterback and made Panthers players relevant again.
Oct 15, 2024 1:47 AM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team hopes to open up the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) this week. Brooks, a second-round selection by the Panthers out of Texas back in April, is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in college. The 21-year-old appears to be nearing his return to make his NFL debut, but just because his practice window is set to open this week doesn't mean he'll be active in the Week 7 contest against the Washington Commanders. And with Chuba Hubbard being one of the best running backs in the league over the last few weeks, the Panthers have no need to rush Brooks back into the fold before he's ready. Brooks should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, but now that he's getting close to joining Carolina's backfield, he's not a bad stash in deeper redraft leagues, either, especially if you're hurting at the RB position.
Oct 14, 2024 4:13 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) said he thinks there's a chance he could open his 21-day practice window next week. Brooks acknowledged there's really no reason to rush back as much as he wants to play. The running game is currently in good hands with Chuba Hubbard. At the very least, Brooks should push Miles Sanders down the RB depth chart in Carolina, and he could force a timeshare with Hubbard in the backfield later on this season once he's up to speed. The 21-year-old is now 11 months removed from a torn ACL, so the Panthers will surely ease him back in, and he won't be a lock to make his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Washington Commanders, even if he resumes practicing next week. For now, Brooks is worth stashing in the majority of fantasy formats after being the first RB taken in this year's draft in April.
Oct 11, 2024 1:07 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) is still in the final stages of his return from an ACL injury and will not have his 21-day practice window opened this week, per Sheena Quick. It was initially anticipated that Brooks could return to the team in Week 5 before his NFL debut. However, he evidently still has "a couple of hurdles to clear." He'll now have to wait at least one more week. The Panthers may be playing it slow with their rookie second-round pick -- heeding more of a cautious approach with the 21-year-old coming off a severe knee injury. Additionally, the breakout of Chuba Hubbard over the last two weeks could play a part in this, too. With Brooks still sidelined, Hubbard will continue to see the majority of backfield touches, with Miles Sanders mixing in when he needs a breather. The former will look to continue to build on his back-to-back standout performances in Week 5 when the team visits Soldier Field and the Chicago Bears. Hubbard will be an RB2 with upside, while Sanders presents as just his handcuff for the contest.
Sep 30, 2024 2:50 PM EST
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is in the final stages of returning to play, according to Sheena Quick of 1340 AM. Brooks suffered a torn ACL in November and has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp. The former second-round pick in this year's draft could return in Week 5 at the earliest, and this new report suggests that could be the case. In his final season at Texas, Brooks ran for 1,139 yards and ten scores and added 286 yards off 25 catches through the air. Fantasy managers should expect the rookie to be eased into game action when he is cleared to return. However, Brooks should eventually become the lead option in the Carolina backfield and could be a valuable fantasy asset down the stretch.
Sep 25, 2024 4:47 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after he was placed on the PUP list amidst his torn ACL recovery. This will delay Brooks' NFL debut, and he'll face an uphill battle to emerge as the Panthers' No. 1 running back once he's healthy. While Brooks is undoubtedly the Panthers' franchise running back, it could be difficult for him to win the job over Chuba Hubbard in the middle of the season while recovering from a serious injury and still acclimating to the NFL caliber of play. In other words, a Week 5 return wouldn't necessarily mean he'd warrant a spot in your Week 5 starting lineup. At the very least, fantasy managers should tamper expectations when Brooks gets healthy and be prepared to exercise patience as he gets adjusted to the NFL.
Sep 1, 2024 9:52 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers have placed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (ACL) on the PUP/NFI list, meaning he will miss the season's first four games. Brooks is still recovering from a torn ACL he sustained last November while at Texas. Despite the injury, the Panthers were impressed enough with Brooks to trade up and select him in the second round of the NFL Draft. In Brooks' absence, the Panthers will rely heavily on Chuba Hubbard, who led the backfield last season with 1,135 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns over 17 games (12 starts). Veteran Miles Sanders, who had 586 scrimmage yards in 2023, will also be in the mix for touches. Hubbard is a solid late-round pick for those using a "zero RB" strategy, as he should serve as a solid RB1 for Carolina until Brooks returns. If your league has an IR spot, consider targeting Brooks late in drafts for a potential payoff later in the season.
Aug 27, 2024 9:25 AM EST
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team has to make a decision on whether to put rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start the regular season. Brooks hasn't practiced since being selected in the second round of the NFL draft in April. At this point, given all the time the 21-year-old has missed this offseason and through the summer, it would be a surprise if he didn't start his first year in the league on the PUP list, which would require him to miss at least the first four games. His injury has caused his draft stock to fall in single-year formats, but the rookie is still worth taking a late-round flier on and stashing in most leagues. If Brooks does end up landing on the PUP officially, it will only increase Chuba Hubbard's early-season fantasy standing as Carolina's lead back.
Aug 26, 2024 9:34 PM EST
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) won't participate in preseason play. Unfortunately, the rookie could also miss time to begin his inaugural year. Brooks, the No. 46 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, tore his ACL in November. With that said, the Panthers will likely limit him once he's healthy enough to return. However, Brooks will presumably compete with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders for touches, meaning it could be challenging for the former Texas Longhorn to do anything substantial for fantasy managers early in the 2024-25 campaign.
Aug 3, 2024 2:58 PM EST
The Carolina Panthers placed running back Jonathon Brooks on the Active/NFI list on Friday night. The rookie, who suffered a torn ACL in November while with his collegiate squad, can be activated at any time. However, he will be forced to miss the first four contests if he isn't cleared to play before the 2024-25 campaign starts. Brooks, the No. 46 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, began his career behind Bijan Robinson at Texas. But after taking over as the lead option in 2023, he ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns off 187 touches, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. At any rate, Brooks will likely be brought along slowly once he's healthy enough to return to the field. Although he could work his way to the top of the depth chart at some point, he may not make an immediate impact for fantasy managers.
Jul 19, 2024 9:09 PM EST