How close are we to seeing the return of Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks? Well, we may have to wait at least another week.
The third-year rusher, after a week of limited participation at practice, has been listed as doubtful
for Sunday's NFC South showdown against the New Orleans Saints. Brooks has been sidelined since the end of Week 2, where he injured his groin in Carolina's 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons.Head coach Dave Canales spoke with reporters following today's session—and was asked how Brooks, who was designated to return to practice on Wednesday, has looked.
"Just from this week, getting him back to football—he had a couple of really nice cuts on Thursday, reaccelerated and looked like himself. So that was encouraging,"
Canales stated. "He and I had a chance to kinda touch base between plays to fill out where he's at. But I think he's on the right track."
Brooks has dealt with some crushing injury history over his three NFL campaigns. A pair of ACL tears, one sustained in college and the other in his third game as a pro, kept him out for a combined 32 games (including playoffs) between 2024 and 2025. His latest setback has shelved him for the last six outings here in 2026.
Canales was later asked if the team will consider rostering four running backs once Brooks is back in the fold.
"That's something we have to consider," he replied. "The biggest factor is special teams—and where to carry that extra player to be able to help out, and what roles need to be filled.
"Whether it's in the core, on punt return, some of those different roles, or whether it's on the perimeter. That's how we kinda make our decisions for some of the end of active parts of it on game day."
The Panthers are currently carrying four backs on their active roster—starter Chuba Hubbard, Trevor Etienne, Anthony Tyus III and AJ Dillon. Etienne and Tyus have been utilized as returners while Dillon has been a healthy scratch over the past few contests.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers HC Dave Canales speaks on the outlook for RB Jonathon Brooks going into Week 10
