The Carolina Panthers got a reassuring sign on Jonathon Brooks this week, and head coach Dave Canales didn’t sound concerned about the running back’s availability for the season opener.
Brooks missed Tuesday’s practice because of soreness, then was seen working off to the side with a trainer. On Wednesday, he was again away from the main action and continuing to work with a trainer, which naturally raised a few questions given his injury history.
Canales, though, offered a calm update when he spoke with reporters.
“I’m very optimistic that he’ll be available for Week 1," Canales told reporters per Mike Kaye of ESPN.
He didn’t go into any more detail about the soreness or where it’s located, and there wasn’t much reason to. NFL teams aren’t allowed to fully report on injuries until the week of the game, when official injury reports are released three times before kickoff.
For now, the situation sounds more precautionary than alarming, which is exactly what Panthers fans want to hear with Week 1 inching closer.
Carolina is preparing for its opener against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 13th at 1 p.m. ET. It will be the Panthers’ first game since their Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams last season.
The Panthers enter the year with some skepticism around them after winning the NFC South and reaching the playoffs with an 8-9 record and the division tiebreaker. And as they get ready for the new season, they’re also trying to sort out the backfield.
Brooks and Chuba Hubbard are expected to share reps this season, a setup that could help lighten the load on quarterback Bryce Young and the rest of the offense.
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