O running back dos Carolina Panthers Jonathon Brooks não tem "nenhuma limitação" para o jogo da Semana 1 em casa da equipe contra os Chicago Bears, de acordo com o técnico Dave Canales. Brooks ficou de fora do relatório final de lesões na sexta-feira depois de lidar com um problema na virilha no início da semana.

Canales disse que espera emparelhar o running back de terceiro ano com o capitão da equipe e veterano Chuba Hubbard nesta temporada. A equipe planejou por "muito tempo" que a dupla liderasse o 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.

Entidades principais: Empresas: Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, ESPN | Pessoas: Jonathon Brooks, Dave Canales, Chuba Hubbard, AJ Dillon, Trevor Etienne, Patrick Jones II | Locais: Carolina, Chicago