Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, HC Dave Canales said Thursday. The team is confident that Hubbard will be ready for Week 1, which is exactly one month away. But his absence gives RB Jonathon Brooks even more opportunity to carve out an early-season role.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks was a full participant in Tuesday's padded practice, likely his first real contact since tearing his ACL in December 2024. He missed all of training camp in both 2024 and 2025 while rehabbing a pair of ACL injuries.
Panthers HC Dave Canales was asked about RB Jonathon Brooks earlier this week and highlighted his ability in the passing game. "JB has looked great, in the run game, certainly, but also in the pass game," Canales said. "Half of his highlights coming out of college were screen passes, wides, things down the field. He has a great ability to catch the ball, track it, and transition once he catches it. Just finding different packages and ways to get him involved in the offense, and he’s looked great so far."
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks said Tuesday that he's been fully cleared to participate in the offseason program, according to The Athletic's Joe Person. Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his right ACL for the second time in a 13-month span. Brooks added Tuesday that he feels "close to 100%."
ESPN's David Newton doesn't expect free agent RB Rico Dowdle to return to the Panthers. "Unless Dowdle wants to return at a bargain price, he appears headed to his third team in three seasons," Newton wrote via ESPN.
Remember Jonathon Brooks? The 46th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft has played just three games for the Panthers. He opened his rookie season rehabbing from a torn ACL suffered in college and then re-tore that ACL in his third game. Brooks missed the entire 2025 campaign. But he's "headed in a good direction" now, GM Dan Morgan said Tuesday.
The Panthers placed RB Jonathon Brooks on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Thursday. Brooks, who tore his ACL in Week 14, will miss the entire 2025 season.
The Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with former Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle. That move comes shortly after the team dumped Miles Sanders.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks suffered another tear of his right ACL in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He suffered the same injury to the same knee last November, which delayed the start to his rookie season.
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard racked up 26 carries and 5 targets in Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He tallied 92 yards and a TD on the ground, plus 4 receptions for 15 yards. Hubbard saw just one carry go to Jonathon Brooks before the rookie injured his right knee. And No. 3 RB Raheem Blackshear left early with a chest injury.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks suffered an apparent non-contact right knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Eagles. That's the same knee in which he tore his ACL last year. We'll update Brooks' status when we know more.
Update: Brooks was carted to the locker room and is officially doubtful to return.
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard only rushed 12 times for 43 yards. Rookie RB Jonathon Brooks increased his output from last week rushing six times for 18 yards. Hubbard didn’t have a target in the game and ceded passing work to Brooks who caught three passes for 23 yards.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks played only 9% of the snaps in Sunday’s close loss to Kansas City. He handled 2 carries for 7 yards.
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is expected to get the "bulk of the carries" vs. the Chiefs today, according to ESPN's David Newton. "There are packages -- particularly third-down" for RB Jonathon Brooks, Newton adds. This is how we've been projecting it all week. Despite the tough matchup, Hubbard can stay in fantasy lineups as a volume-based RB2. Brooks is not a recommended fantasy play.
Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Chiefs. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said this morning that Brooks won’t be on a snap count in his long-awaited NFL debut, but we’re still expecting him to play minimally behind RB Chuba Hubbard.
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