Menurut pelatih Dave Canales, running back Carolina Panthers Jonathon Brooks tidak memiliki "batasan" untuk pertandingan kandang Minggu 1 tim melawan Chicago Bears. Brooks dikeluarkan dari laporan cedera akhir pada hari Jumat setelah menangani masalah pangkal paha awal pekan ini.

Canales mengatakan ia menantikan untuk memasangkan running back tahun ketiga itu dengan kapten tim dan veteran Chuba Hubbard musim ini. Tim telah merencanakan untuk "waktu yang sangat lama" agar duo ini memimpin backfield.

The Panthers used a second-round pick on Brooks -- the 46th overall selection -- in the 2024 NFL draft. He has played in just three regular-season games since, coming off back-to-back right ACL surgeries. Brooks participated in training camp and the preseason for the first time in his three-year career, with his workload managed. He played 17 snaps in two preseason games, running eight times for 23 yards and catching one pass for 9 yards.

Hubbard, sidelined throughout the preseason with a hamstring injury, was listed as the team's starter on its unofficial depth chart for Week 1. The team also kept veteran journeyman AJ Dillon. Trevor Etienne, a fourth-round Carolina pick in 2025, was placed on injured reserve last month with an ankle injury. Outside linebacker Patrick Jones II (back) was the lone name on the final injury report for the Panthers.

Entitas Utama: Perusahaan: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, ESPN | Orang: Jonathon Brooks, Dave Canales, Chuba Hubbard, AJ Dillon, Trevor Etienne, Patrick Jones II | Lokasi: Carolina, Chicago