The Carolina Panthers have had a tough season overall, but there is a glimmer of hope as some key players return from injury. After battling significant health issues, head coach Dave Canales is seeing some improvement on the injury front.
Key players like safety Jordan Fuller and edge rusher D.J. Wonnum have been activated and are expected to contribute in the team’s international game against the New York Giants.
In addition to these returns, the Panthers may also see the NFL debut of running back Jonathon Brooks. The team identified Brooks as a promising prospect during pre-draft evaluations and traded up to select him at No. 46 overall, despite the fact he was recovering from a torn ACL suffered in his final season at Texas.
His road to recovery has been long and challenging, with the Panthers taking extra care in his rehabilitation. Fortunately, the team already had a strong backfield presence in Chuba Hubbard, who was rewarded with a new four-year deal after a strong start to the season.
Brooks has been activated to the 53-man roster, as the Panthers needed to do so to avoid placing him on injured reserve for the season. While Brooks has expressed that he’s ready to contribute, Canales has yet to confirm his role for the upcoming game.
However, expectations surrounding Brooks’ return have been tempered. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the rookie may not be active for the Week 10 game against the Giants, a sentiment later confirmed by Sara Walsh of NFL Network. Brooks is now expected to make his debut after the Panthers’ bye week, in a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
