RADIO
Jonathon Brooks in Full Uniform and Pads on Wednesday
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (soreness) was seen in full uniform and pads for Wednesday's practice, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The Panthers have been playing it safe with Brooks heading into the start of the 2026 regular season after he already tore his ACL twice since being drafted by Carolina. He was practicing off to the side earlier this week, and this report for Kaye suggests that Brooks has a pretty good chance of suiting up for the Week 1 season opener this Sunday, Sept. 13, versus the Chicago Bears. Brooks could have a limited listing on the team's Wednesday practice report, but all signs are pointing to him sharing the Panthers' backfield with Chuba Hubbard this weekend as he looks to stay healthy for the first time since being drafted in the second round out of Texas in 2024. If the 23-year-old is active on Sunday, as expected, fantasy managers should consider him as an RB3/flex option in his first NFL game since the 2024 season.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Chuba Hubbard Listed as RB1 on Unofficial Depth Chart
On the Carolina Panthers' Week 1 unofficial 53-man depth chart, running back Chuba Hubbard is listed as the RB1 over Jonathon Brooks, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. As always, fantasy managers should not be reading too much into an unofficial depth chart before the start of the regular season. The 27-year-old Hubbard is the more experienced, longer-tenured RB on the Panthers' roster after rushing for 3,686 yards and 23 touchdowns in his five seasons in the NFL with the Panthers. The former fourth-rounder in 2021 from Oklahoma State broke out with 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns on 250 carries in 15 games in 2024, adding 43 catches for 171 yards and another score as a receiver, but Rico Dowdle took over the team's backfield last year, leaving Hubbard as a disappointment with only 511 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground in 15 regular-season games. Going into 2026, Hubbard's stock has fallen to that of an RB3/flex option, with Brooks having an opportunity to take over the backfield if he can finally stay healthy (he has already suffered two torn ACLs since being drafted in 2024). Behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, Hubbard and Brooks may find running lanes hard to come by in 2026.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Optimism Waning for Jonathon Brooks' Week 1 Availability?
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (soreness) continues to deal with general soreness, and after he was seen working with trainers during the media accessible portion of Monday's practice, head coach Dave Canales declined to offer an update on his status. Canales told reporters on Thursday that he was "very optimistic" about Brooks' availability for Week 1, and when asked on Monday if that remained the case, he said he "hopes so." The Panthers host the Bears to open the 2026 season, and with the first official injury report to be released on Wednesday, Brooks' status will need to be monitored, as he has become a popular breakout candidate in what had looked to be the first fully healthy season of his professional career.
Source: Mike Kaye
Source: Mike Kaye
Jonathon Brooks Remains Limited to Side Work
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is still dealing with general soreness and worked off to the side with a trainer during Monday's practice, according to Mike Kaye. Brooks was also held out of Carolina's Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 practices before the team took a few days off. Head coach Dave Canales said last week that he was "very optimistic" Brooks would be available for Week 1, but the third-year back has yet to get back into regular team work. Brooks missed all of 2025 following his second right ACL tear before returning this summer and appearing in two preseason games. Carolina doesn't open against Chicago until Sept. 13, so there is still time. For now, Brooks' practice participation over the next few days will be worth watching.
Source: Mike Kaye
Source: Mike Kaye
Jonathon Brooks' Stock Back on the Rise Amidst Improved Health Outlook
A second-round pick in 2024, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) has been limited by knee injuries to just three career games and nine career carries through his first two NFL seasons. The 23-year-old has also been working through an undisclosed injury that has prevented him from practicing in recent days, which is obviously a concern given his track record. However, Panthers coach Dave Canales recently said that the team is very optimistic that Brooks will be able to play in Week 1. Reporting throughout the summer also indicated that Brooks was impressive in training camp and that the team could be planning on him playing a significant role in their offense. While veteran running back Chuba Hubbard will likely open the year as Carolina's RB1, Brooks could be the higher-upside option of the two. As a mid-to-late round pick in most drafts, Brooks profiles as a high-risk, high-reward selection for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Panthers "Very Optimistic" Jonathon Brooks Will Be Available in Week 1
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) spent Wednesday's practice working with trainers on a side field for the second day in a row, but head coach Dave Canales told reporters he was "very optimistic" about Brooks' availability for Week 1 against the Bears. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Brooks has appeared in only three career games, re-tearing the right ACL that ended his collegiate career after handling only 12 touches as a rookie. While Canales' update offers reassurance about his availability, questions about his role still make Brooks a difficult fantasy start to begin the year, as conflicting reports out of training camp have painted a muddied picture of how he might split work with veteran Chuba Hubbard in 2026. The talent that made Brooks the first running back off the board in 2024 is still apparent, and with the higher-upside case among Carolina's backs, he is well worth taking a shot on later in drafts as RotoBaller's RB33.
Source: Joe Person
Source: Joe Person
Jonathon Brooks Off to the Side Again on Wednesday
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (undisclosed) is working off to the side with a trainer for the second straight day in practice on Wednesday, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. Head coach Dave Canales said that Brooks had some "soreness" on Tuesday, but he would not specify where. Brooks has been gaining steam as the potential lead back in Carolina in 2026 over Chuba Hubbard, who had a disappointing 2025 campaign after a 1,000-yard season for the Panthers in 2024. The 23-year-old Brooks, a second-rounder out of Texas in 2024, has already torn his ACL twice since entering the NFL and has played in just three games for the Panthers in his rookie season. Despite durability concerns, Brooks has explosive upside out of the backfield if he is healthy and could push Hubbard for lead-back duties this year. Right now, Brooks' undisclosed injury does not seem serious enough to keep him out in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, but we should have a better idea of his status next week. RotoBaller has Brooks and Hubbard ranked at No. 33 and No. 34, respectively.
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Source: The Charlotte Observer - Mike Kaye
Chuba Hubbard Still in Line for Heavy Work
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard may remain a major part of the backfield, even with Jonathon Brooks healthy again. According to Dan Graziano of ESPN, the plan is for Hubbard and Brooks to split carries, with Hubbard potentially getting the larger share when Carolina is trying to close out games. The Panthers are excited about Brooks but intend to be careful with him after two ACL tears. Hubbard remains first on Carolina's current depth chart and has already shown he can handle a big workload, rushing for 1,195 yards in 2024. His numbers fell to 511 yards on 134 carries across 15 games last season. Brooks, meanwhile, has played only three regular-season games since entering the NFL and missed all of 2025. If ESPN's reported split holds, Hubbard should remain much more involved than fantasy managers expecting a Brooks takeover might have hoped.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Chuba Hubbard Dressed for Practice
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) had his helmet on and was dressed for Tuesday's practice, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Hubbard could be limited in practice, but the fact that he is on the field at all is a good sign for his availability for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13. Hubbard has missed practice time late in training camp with a hamstring injury that he suffered in the middle of August. Combined with Jonathon Brooks' strong camp, Hubbard has fallen in the RB rankings for 2026 after a poor season in 2025 in which Rico Dowdle took over lead-back duties. The 27-year-old had his first 1,000-yard season with a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns on 250 carries in 2024, but he fell to just 511 rushing yards and one touchdown last year on 134 carries in 15 regular-season games. Head coach Dave Canales is ready to use a committee approach in the backfield between Hubbard and Brooks, and it could be a hot-hand approach from week to week. The former fourth-rounder is no better than an RB3/flex in fantasy football drafts, with Brooks (although injury-prone) possessing more explosive upside.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Jonathon Brooks Working Off to the Side on Tuesday
The Athletic's Joe Person reports that Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is working on the side during practice on Tuesday. It is unclear if Brooks is dealing with some sort of injury, but if we find out, we will pass it along. Despite tearing his ACL twice since the Panthers took him in the second round in 2024 from Texas, the 23-year-old has been gaining steam as the potential lead back in Carolina in 2026. Rico Dowdle is now gone, but Chuba Hubbard is still around. If Brooks and Hubbard are both healthy, head coach Dave Canales told reporters that the team will use a committee backfield between the two backs. Hubbard has been dealing with a hamstring injury late in training camp, but it is unclear if it will affect his availability for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season. Brooks might have more fantasy upside, but durability is also a bigger concern. At RotoBaller, Brooks is ranked as the RB33, with Hubbard right behind him as the RB34. It could be impossible to predict which RB has the better game on a week-to-week basis, and Canales could go with the hot hand. UPDATE: Sheena Quick of FOX Sports Radio 1340 reports that Brooks missed practice due to general soreness, per Canales.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Jonathon Brooks Has a Chance to Take Over the Panthers' Backfield
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is trending up once again. After knee injuries limited him to just five games through his first two seasons, he's now fully healthy and ready to occupy a big role on offense. There may be a little re-acclimation period as he gets used to his first NFL action since 2024, but there's also a glaring opportunity for him to step into a 1B role alongside Chuba Hubbard. Furthermore, we can't rule out the possibility of him completely taking over the backfield and leaving Hubbard in a backup role. This wouldn't be new territory for Hubbard, who sort of lost his job to Rico Dowdle last year. Brooks is incredibly talented, and if he can stay healthy, he could return to the high-end RB2 upside that he possessed prior to his rookie season. This is a low-risk move for managers, as Brooks still has a relatively modest ADP of 83.6.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Trevor Etienne to Open Season on Injured Reserve
The Carolina Panthers placed running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) on injured reserve ahead of Sunday's 53-man roster deadline. Etienne will occupy one of the two IR spots for players who are designated to return later in the season. The team can activate him in Week 5 or later, and when they do so, he'll count toward the 53-man roster. Etienne was originally slated to operate as the Panthers' No. 3 running back behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks, but those responsibilities will belong to AJ Dillon for now. Etienne had just 107 scrimmage yards, zero touchdowns, and one fumble lost through 17 games as a rookie last year. He can be left on fantasy waivers in most leagues as long as Hubbard and Brooks are both healthy.
Source: Carolina Panthers
Source: Carolina Panthers
Trevor Etienne Being Evaluated for an Ankle Injury
Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne (ankle) is undergoing further evaluation after he suffered an ankle injury during Friday's preseason contest against the Houston Texans, head coach Dave Canales told Sheena Quick of FOX Sports Radio1340. Etienne had just one carry for two rushing yards prior to his departure. The Georgia product was relatively uninvolved on offense as a rookie last year, and he's still pretty much locked into the No. 3 running back role for the upcoming season. If the ankle injury ends up being serious and forces him to miss time, the Panthers would likely slot AJ Dillon into the third-string running back role behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks.
Source: Sheena Quick
Source: Sheena Quick
Trevor Etienne Could See More Work if Backfield Mate Misses Time
Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne could see a larger workload in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. As a rookie, Etienne totaled 107 scrimmage yards on 23 attempts, spending most of his time on special teams. Now, with starting running back Chuba Hubbard dealing with a hamstring injury, both Etienne and Jonathon Brooks are expected to see more work if Hubbard is unable to return for Week 1. Although Etienne would remain a limited option, the team might involve him early to help ease Brooks back into play, given Brooks' injury history. If Hubbard is able to return to practice soon and play against the Bears, Etienne would likely be phased back into his special teams role with Carolina.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jonathon Brooks Impresses on Red-Zone Run
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks had another encouraging moment during Wednesday's joint practice with Houston. According to Kyle Bailey, Brooks showed patience on a red-zone carry, waited for a lane to open, cut back and picked up roughly 10 to 12 yards. That kind of run stands out a little more with Brooks, who is coming back from two tears of the same right ACL. The second one cost him the entire 2025 season. Brooks has only 12 regular-season touches in the NFL, but he has looked comfortable cutting and accelerating this summer, worked with the first-team offense, and scored a 1-yard touchdown against Jacksonville last Friday. Chuba Hubbard has been working back from a hamstring injury, and Dave Canales has said Carolina plans to keep rotating its backs once Hubbard returns. Brooks isn't suddenly taking over the backfield, but he's giving the Panthers more reasons to trust him in a meaningful role.
Source: Kyle Bailey
Source: Kyle Bailey
