Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks to debut vs. Chiefs

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks will make his debut this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Dave Canales said Monday.

Brooks, 21, was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At 46th overall, the former University of Texas standout was the first running back off the board.

Brooks has been rehabbing from surgery last November to repair a torn ACL. The Panthers activated him from the non-football injury list last month and moved him to the active roster on Nov. 6.

Brooks will join the backfield with Chuba Hubbard, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 818 rushing yards. Canales said Miles Sanders (ankle) is not expected to play when the Panthers (3-7) return from their bye week to host the Chiefs (9-1).

Bryce Young will remain the quarterback after winning consecutive starts before the bye against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

"This is about the continued progress, Bryce looking more and more confident," Canales said Monday. "Just an aggressiveness to his play ... and of course the end result, winning.

"He continues to do things to put us in a position to put him back out there and continue to build on that."

Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns in 2023 before his knee injury.

--Field Level Media