The Carolina Panthers got a welcome sign this week as they keep sorting through Jonathon Brooks’ recovery heading into Week 1.
Brooks was on the field in uniform and pads for Wednesday’s practice, according to ESPN insider Mike Kaye. It’s not a guarantee he’ll be available Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but it does put him a step closer as Carolina works through the final stretch before the opener.
That matters because Brooks has been out since suffering a torn ACL at the end of the 2024 season. He missed all of 2025, a tough blow for a Panthers offense that had already seen what he could bring when healthy.
Carolina has handled his return carefully all offseason, and head coach Dave Canales made it clear earlier this week that the team is still being cautious. “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 selected Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but injuries limited him to just three games that season. The team has been waiting to see that upside again ever since.
If Brooks is cleared to go this season, he’d be in position to share the backfield with Chuba Hubbard. For now, Carolina is simply encouraged by the fact that he was back out there as Week 1 approaches.
In Other News...
Panthers Secondary Could Get Even Scarier With This Early Projection
A 2027 NFL mock draft has the Panthers looking to add another major piece to a defense that already has a chance to become a real strength. Bleacher Reports scouting department projected Carolina taking Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore at No. 7 overall, a pick that would fit the idea of continuing to build on the back end with a player praised for his technique, size and football IQ.
Moore is the kind of prospect who could make sense if Carolina wants to keep stacking talent in the secondary and stay ahead of future roster decisions. It is still far too early to treat any projection as more than a snapshot of what evaluators think now, but it does underline how much attention the Panthers defensive potential is already drawing. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Sweat Could Become A Cardinals Pivot Point Fast
With the trade deadline approaching, the Bears search for another edge rusher is already drawing attention, and Josh Sweat has surfaced as one of the more intriguing names to watch. The Cardinals linebacker has the kind of front-seven presence that can change the look of a defense quickly, which is why a possible deal involving a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick has entered the conversation.
For now, Arizona is said to have no interest in moving Sweat, but the door does not have to stay shut if the teams competitive outlook shifts. That uncertainty is what makes him such a potential pivot point, because a player viewed as part of the Cardinals present can become a trade chip in a hurry if the season starts pointing in a different direction. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Finally Have A Linebacker Answer They Desperately Needed
The Panthers moved quickly to address a problem area at linebacker, bringing in Bobby Okereke on a one-year contract after the release of Trevin Wallace during roster cutdowns. Okereke arrives with a clear resume, having been the Giants leading tackler, and he gives Carolina a veteran presence in a room that needed one as the team settles into its base 3-4 defense.
For Dave Canales and Dan Morgan, the fit is about more than just adding a familiar name. Okereke is expected to compete alongside Devin Lloyd and help steady a unit that has lacked certainty, and the Panthers are banking on his experience and range to raise the floor on defense. What remains to be seen is how quickly he can turn that trust into the kind of on-field answer Carolina has been searching for. [Read more 🡒]