09-13-2026, 12:02 PM -
Five takeaways from Friday, including "no limitations" on Jonathon Brooks
CHARLOTTE — Now that Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks has been medically cleared, he's cleared for action.
And according to head coach Dave Canales, he's ready to use him.
Canales said Brooks would be part of the run game alongside Chuba Hubbard Sunday against the Bears, returning him to the field for the first time since his second ACL tear in 2024.
"No limitations," Canales said of Brooks, who was limited in practice earlier this week with a groin injury, but practiced fully on Friday.
"Just ready to see him play," Canales continued. "And try to utilize his talents the best way possible, with some different things. But also just running the football. Very excited to see Chuba get back to his work, and this is a tandem that we've been thinking about for a really long time, and I'm excited to see those guys get out there and help their team."
The Panthers want to run anyway by philosophy, but getting Brooks back in the mix with Hubbard (and third back AJ Dillon) gives them a versatile and talented group.
Brooks played through the preseason and scored a touchdown to break the seal on that milestone. But that first regular season game figures to be meaningful for many people who have watched Brooks' comeback.
"I think it's like anything in life, it's that delayed gratification," Canales said. "When you've worked so hard for something, and you've had to overcome hardships. And people experience this in family and in business and football happens to be our business, and JB just wants to get back to work. And the joy that he's brought to our group in the process also is special to me, because of what a teammate he was during the time as he's rehabbing again. He just stayed around the guys; he stayed engaged in what we were doing, and, you know, he's walking out to practice and high-fiving guys in the stretch lines. He doesn't get to practice that day for a while, but to see that consistency of his character, to see the guys embrace him as their teammate, even though we haven't played that many games together, he has very much been with us this whole time, so it'll be special."
MUTLIPLE LOOKS AT LINEBACKER
With veteran outside linebacker Patrick Jones II out this week with a back issue, the Panthers are going to be in all-hands-on-deck mode against the Bears.
Canales wouldn't commit to a starter opposite Jaelan Phillips, because that could change situationally between Princely Umanmielen and Trevis Gipson. He also said that special teamer Thomas Incoom would have to be ready, and they recently brought Jeremiah Moon back to the practice squad for another known commodity. That group was thinned by Nic Scourton's ACL tear on the first day of training camp.
Umanmielen has had a good preseason, and Canales said he's "absolutely" become more comfortable as a three-down defender after being used almost exclusively as a pass-rusher last year.
"It'll be a mix of those guys," Canales said. "Thomas Incoom's going to have to help as well, and he's had a phenomenal camp, a guy that continues to get better in the techniques playing on the edge. So, those are the guys that, you know, we're going to count on. . . .
"That (run defense) is the growth that we were asking for is to make sure that you can get quality snaps on whatever down it is. While Princeley does have a future role as a rusher, he's certainly grown a lot. (Position coach) AC Carter's been working with him just on his hand placement, taking on blocks, setting edges, doing different things like that. And so that's another element that they really took steps in, and we want to see it come alive this season."
CHARLOTTE — Now that Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks has been medically cleared, he's cleared for action.
And according to head coach Dave Canales, he's ready to use him.
Canales said Brooks would be part of the run game alongside Chuba Hubbard Sunday against the Bears, returning him to the field for the first time since his second ACL tear in 2024.
"No limitations," Canales said of Brooks, who was limited in practice earlier this week with a groin injury, but practiced fully on Friday.
"Just ready to see him play," Canales continued. "And try to utilize his talents the best way possible, with some different things. But also just running the football. Very excited to see Chuba get back to his work, and this is a tandem that we've been thinking about for a really long time, and I'm excited to see those guys get out there and help their team."
The Panthers want to run anyway by philosophy, but getting Brooks back in the mix with Hubbard (and third back AJ Dillon) gives them a versatile and talented group.
Brooks played through the preseason and scored a touchdown to break the seal on that milestone. But that first regular season game figures to be meaningful for many people who have watched Brooks' comeback.
"I think it's like anything in life, it's that delayed gratification," Canales said. "When you've worked so hard for something, and you've had to overcome hardships. And people experience this in family and in business and football happens to be our business, and JB just wants to get back to work. And the joy that he's brought to our group in the process also is special to me, because of what a teammate he was during the time as he's rehabbing again. He just stayed around the guys; he stayed engaged in what we were doing, and, you know, he's walking out to practice and high-fiving guys in the stretch lines. He doesn't get to practice that day for a while, but to see that consistency of his character, to see the guys embrace him as their teammate, even though we haven't played that many games together, he has very much been with us this whole time, so it'll be special."
MUTLIPLE LOOKS AT LINEBACKER
With veteran outside linebacker Patrick Jones II out this week with a back issue, the Panthers are going to be in all-hands-on-deck mode against the Bears.
Canales wouldn't commit to a starter opposite Jaelan Phillips, because that could change situationally between Princely Umanmielen and Trevis Gipson. He also said that special teamer Thomas Incoom would have to be ready, and they recently brought Jeremiah Moon back to the practice squad for another known commodity. That group was thinned by Nic Scourton's ACL tear on the first day of training camp.
Umanmielen has had a good preseason, and Canales said he's "absolutely" become more comfortable as a three-down defender after being used almost exclusively as a pass-rusher last year.
"It'll be a mix of those guys," Canales said. "Thomas Incoom's going to have to help as well, and he's had a phenomenal camp, a guy that continues to get better in the techniques playing on the edge. So, those are the guys that, you know, we're going to count on. . . .
"That (run defense) is the growth that we were asking for is to make sure that you can get quality snaps on whatever down it is. While Princeley does have a future role as a rusher, he's certainly grown a lot. (Position coach) AC Carter's been working with him just on his hand placement, taking on blocks, setting edges, doing different things like that. And so that's another element that they really took steps in, and we want to see it come alive this season."
This post was last modified: 09-13-2026, 12:03 PM by PantherFan007.
