The Carolina Panthers’ final injury report for Week 1 brought a little clarity - and one big absence - ahead of their matchup with the Chicago Bears.
Running back Jonathon Brooks and defensive lineman Bobby Brown both finished the week on a good note. Brooks, who had been on the injury report, was upgraded to full participation on Friday and will not carry a designation into the weekend. Brown also wrapped up the week with a full session after getting there on Thursday, so he’s set to play as well.
Outside linebacker Patrick Jones is a different story. He did not practice at all during the week and will miss the season opener. That’s a rough start for a player who appeared in just four games in 2025 because of injury.
Jones’ absence adds another hit to a Panthers defense already dealing with the loss of Nic Scourton, who tore his ACL in training camp and is out for the season.
There was also some movement on tight end Darren Waller, even though he never appeared on the injury report. Waller has been ramping up and learning the playbook since joining Carolina, and head coach Dave Canales said he’s ready physically. Still, as the Associated Press’ Steve Reed noted, Canales “stopped short of saying if he will be activated on Sunday.”
If Waller is healthy enough to play, the remaining question is how quickly he’s picked up the offense. Based on the reporting, the expectation is that he’ll be out there Sunday.
Canales also addressed Brooks’ status and workload after the running back landed on the report during the week. His answer was clear: Brooks won’t be limited against Chicago.
"No limitations," Canales said of Brooks, according to The Athletic's Joe Person.
"Just ready to see him play and try to utilize his talents the best way possible with some different things, but also just running the football," Canales added.
The sense heading into the opener is that Brooks and Chuba Hubbard will share the backfield work, though how that split actually plays out is still up in the air. Hubbard may get the first crack at a heavier workload because of his experience, but Carolina could easily lean on whichever back has the hotter hand. Game script will matter too, and Brooks is projected to see roughly 10 touches in Week 1.
In Other News...
Panthers Open Week 1 With Early Absences They Cant Ignore
A light practice report can still tell a useful story this time of year, and Carolinas latest one came with a few reminders that the roster is already being tested. Taylor Moton, Brady Christensen, Trevor Etienne, Nic Scourton and Chris Brazzell are all expected to miss significant time, leaving the Panthers to sort through early depth questions before the season has even settled into its rhythm.
The team tried to keep the train moving with a set of practice squad additions, bringing in linebacker Tyrel Dodson, guard Chandler Zavala and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon. Those moves help fill out the numbers, but they also underline how quickly Week 1 can turn into a balancing act when injuries start stacking up and the lineup has to be adjusted on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Kuechly Just Gave Panthers Fans A New Reason To Watch
Luke Kuechlys post-playing career just took another noticeable step, and Panthers fans had a reason to tune in. The former Carolina linebacker, now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, made his debut as a color commentator on Netflixs NFL broadcast for the 49ers-Rams game in Australia, a stage that came with plenty of visibility and not much room for a soft landing.
Even with limited broadcasting experience, Kuechly drew widespread praise from viewers and analysts for how he handled the assignment. He is scheduled to call three more NFL games for Netflix this season, giving Carolina fans a fresh way to keep up with one of the defining players of the franchises modern era. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Quietly Opened Up Cap Flexibility Before Week 1
The Panthers made a quiet bit of roster bookkeeping before Week 1, restructuring defensive tackle TerShawn Whartons contract to create some breathing room for the future. By converting $12.2 million of his salary into a signing bonus and adding three void years, Carolina opened up $9.7 million in cap space for the 2026 season, a move that gives the front office a little more flexibility as it continues to manage the roster around key decisions ahead.
Wharton still has two years and $28.85 million left on his deal after the adjustment, so this was less about changing the players role than about smoothing out the teams finances. For a club always trying to stay nimble under the cap, it is the sort of move that does not make headlines on its own, but can matter later if Carolina needs room to keep building. [Read more 🡒]