Panthers Get Positive Injury Update on Jonathon Brooks Entering Week 1

The Carolina Panthers come into the new 2026 NFL season as the defending NFC South champions following a postseason berth last year.

Carolina finished the year 8-9, but was able to get into the playoffs, with the division being very weak. But all of that is now in the past, with the Panthers' entire focus being on getting better this coming season.

The Panthers have been preparing for the opening week of the season against the Chicago Bears. But the team has been dealing with the ongoing injury to running back Jonathon Brooks.

Brooks missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a torn ACL at the end of the 2024 season. This was a major loss for Carolina, as Brooks had established himself as a strong weapon for the offense.

But with just a few days before the season kicks off for the Panthers, there is a positive update on Brooks. ESPN insider Mike Kaye has reported that Brooks was in uniform and pads for the Panthers' practice on Wednesday.

This doesn't guarantee that Brooks will play on Sunday, but it does seem like he could be trending toward giving it a go. Carolina will release a full injury report for the game closer to the date.

Brooks has been slow-played this offseason, with the team trying to make sure that he is fully healtny before clering him. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said earlier this week that the team was taking things "one day at a time" when it comes to the running back.

“We have to just keep taking it one day at a time," Canales said. "He ran out there today, and then we'll evaluate what that looked like. We'll see that and compare it to what he looked like before, and we'll go from there.”

The Panthers took Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he was only able to play in three games that season. Carolina is hopeful that he can return this year, and give the team a boost on offense.

Carolina has liked the upside of Brooks since they drafted him, but the injuries have derailed everything. If he can play this season, Brooks would likely split carries with Chuba Hubbard in the backfield.

The Panthers will reveal more details about Brooks' playing status as the weekend draws closer. Carolina and the Bears have a 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET kick off on Sunday