Brooks (knee), who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list after having had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, is listed as a limited participant on Carolina's injury report.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks, who is working his way back from an ACL tear sustained during his final year at Texas, practiced in full pads without a brace on his right knee, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers will take things a "week at a time" in terms of ramping up Brooks' activity, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports, so it sounds like the team may not be targeting Sunday's matchup against Washington for the rookie second-round pick's debut. Even once he's cleared to suit up, Brooks may realistically be slowly worked back into action alongside Chuba Hubbard, who has impressed early in the 2024 regular season, and backup Miles Sanders.

The Panthers announced Wednesday that Brooks (knee) has had his 21-day window to return to practice opened. Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks' return to practice was announced by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, and Carolina now makes the move official. The rookie second-round pick began the 2024 season on the reserve/non-football injury list while recovering from a right ACL tear suffered during his final year at Texas, and he now kicks off a three week window wherein he can be monitored at practice without counting against the 53-man roster. Brooks can be fully activated at any point in that time. Once fully healthy, Brooks will work to push for a role alongside Chuba Hubbard atop the Panthers' backfield, though his first task will be to usurp backup Miles Sanders.

Coach Dave Canales said Monday that the Panthers plan to open the 21-day window for Brooks (knee) to return to practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks has yet to make his NFL debut as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered during his final season at Texas, but that injury didn't preclude the Panthers from drafting him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Once the team officially designates Brooks to return from the reserve/non-football injury list, the Panthers will have three weeks from that point to put him on the active roster. Chuba Hubbard has thrived as the team's lead back early in the 2024 campaign, racking up 485 rushing yards through six games.

Brooks (knee) said Friday that he may return to practice next week, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks also acknowledged that there's not much reason to hurry him back even though he's eager to play, as the Carolina backfield has been in good hands with Chuba Hubbard, whose success perhaps limits some of the prior optimism about what Brooks might do once he plays. The rookie is talented enough to force a timeshare, or at least to push backup Miles Sanders out of the picture, and there's always some chance an injury to Hubbard creates a better opportunity. Brooks is 11 months removed from suffering an ACL tear -- an injury that didn't prevent him from being the first RB selected (46th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that the team won't designate Brooks (knee) to return to practice this week, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks started the regular season on the reserve/non-football injury list, which makes Week 5 his earliest possible return date, but Carolina hasn't cleared the rookie second-round pick to resume practicing. Per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, Canales said Brooks is in the "final stages" of his recovery from a right ACL tear sustained in his final collegiate season at Texas that prevented him from taking part in the Panthers' offseason program. Once he's designated to return, a 21-day practice window will open for Brooks, and with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders both currently running well, the Panthers have little need to hurry the rookie along.

Brooks (knee) is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in November and is approaching a return to action, per head coach Dave Canales, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today Panthers Wire reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks is on the non-football injury list, so the earliest he could make his NFL debut is Week 5 against the Bears. The Panthers would have to make an official move activating Brooks before he's eligible to play. Carolina's second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft tore his ACL while playing college football for Texas in November and didn't fully participate in the Panthers' offseason program, so Brooks may need some additional time to get up to speed. Once healthy enough to play, the rookie will join a Panthers backfield led by Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

Brooks will start the regular season on the non-football injury list and miss at least the first four games, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks tore his ACL while playing football but is eligible for the NFI list because the injury occurred during a college game last November before the start of his NFL career. The Panthers made him the first running back taken in the 2024 NFL Draft anyway, 46th overall, undeterred by a lack of athletic testing or the possibility he'd miss games at the start of his pro career. Brooks has been on the NFI list all summer, leaving Chuba Hubbard temporarily unchallenged as Carolina's No. 1 running back. Miles Sanders could also get some carries early in the season, but Hubbard is a safe bet to make starts and lead the backfield in touches until Brooks is ready to make his NFL debut.

Coach Dave Canales suggested Monday morning that the Panthers haven't decided if Brooks (knee) will start the regular season on the reseve/PUP list, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The uncertainty suggests Brooks is unlikely to play Week 1 but could be ready before Week 5, as the reserve/PUP list would rule him out for the first four games. Canales said in early August that he expected the rookie to debut around Week 3 or 4, and it now sounds like the Panthers may take the decision down to the last day with the roster cutdown to 53 players looming Tuesday afternoon. Either way, Chuba Hubbard figures to be the starting RB for Week 1 at New Orleans.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said Saturday that Brooks (knee) won't play in the preseason and isn't expected to make his NFL debut until Week 3 or Week 4 of the regular season, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brooks is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered last November, though the injury didn't stop the Panthers from picking him in the second round of April's NFL Draft. There was initially some optimism that the running back could be ready to practice at the start of training camp, but it's now apparent that he will be eased along cautiously and won't suit up for any preseason contests. It's possible that Brooks will begin the campaign on the PUP list, in which case he wouldn't be eligible to play until Week 5. With Brooks set to miss at least the first three games of the regular season, Chuba Hubbard's hold on the lead back role entering Week 1 may be cemented, though it's still possible that Miles Sanders gives him competition for those duties.

The Panthers placed Brooks (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Carolina saw rookies report for the start of training camp Friday, and despite early offseason reports that Brooks would be cleared for the start of camp, he will begin on the NFI list while continuing to recover from a torn right ACL suffered last November. Of course, Brooks can be activated at any time this summer, so he could still gain clearance to practice in at least a limited capacity without missing much of camp. The rookie second-round pick has just under three weeks to prepare for the Panthers' preseason opener against New England, and when ready to practice, he figures to compete for first-team reps with Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Rashaad Penny.