Jonathon Brooks’ latest setback has Carolina at least kicking around the idea of another running back, even if this one would come cheap.
Brooks reaggravated his groin injury Sunday near the end of the Panthers’ blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons, heading back to the locker room with the training staff. The good news is that it’s his groin and not the twice-repaired knee. The bad news is that he’s now considered week-to-week, and it would be a surprise if he’s active this weekend against the Cleveland Browns.
That raises the obvious question: how long might Brooks be out this time? Given his injury history, it’s fair to wonder whether this turns into a multi-week absence. He has yet to find a way to stay healthy at the NFL level, and that uncertainty has put Carolina back in the market - at least in theory - for a short-term running back option.
The Panthers don’t necessarily need to chase a headline name. With AJ Dillon already on the roster, they may not need to trade for anyone at all. But if Brooks is going to miss time, adding a bargain piece would make sense.
One name floated as a fit is Kimani Vidal. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton pointed to the Los Angeles Chargers back as a possible stopgap for Carolina.
"General manager Dan Morgan could inquire about Kimani Vidal, who dropped to third on the depth chart after the Los Angeles Chargers signed Keaton Mitchell this past offseason," Moton wrote.
He added, "Last season, Vidal excelled in a lead role, racking up a career-high 643 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Omarion Hampton missed time with an ankle injury."
Carolina’s Chuba Hubbard-led backfield has been only 20th in the NFL, a ranking that sits well below where many would have expected it to be. The Bryce Young passing game has been better than anticipated, but another running back could help the Panthers bring more balance to the offense.
The sticking point is cost and timing. Vidal would not require much as a third-string back, but Brooks may not even end up on Injured Reserve, which means Carolina could be giving up draft capital for a player who would mostly serve as a backup for a few weeks.
There’s also the matter of depth already on hand. Dillon showed enough in the preseason to suggest he can handle a workload, and Trevor Etienne should be back sooner rather than later.
Vidal isn’t a clear need. Still, if the price is right, he could be a useful short-term addition while Brooks recovers.
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