We’ll still have to wait on the NFL debut of Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks.
The rookie rusher has officially been downgraded to out for today’s NFC South showdown against the New Orleans Saints. Brooks, who practiced in full throughout the week, was initially listed as questionable.
Carolina selected Brooks with the 46th overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft. The University of Texas standout tore his ACL last November and remained sidelined throughout the offseason.
His status for Sunday shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, as head coach Dave Canales hinted at holding him out on Friday.
“The guys stacked really solid weeks,” Canales told reporters after practice. “We’re gathering all that information. And we’ll go through this weekend probably without those guys—we’re talkin’ about Brooks, we’re talkin’ about [D.J.] Wonnum, we’re talkin’ about [Adam] Thielen.
“So guys that are certainly trending towards where we know where they can help us. But wanna be completely sure for the guys and for the team.”
Thielen and Wonnum were also among the five players who were downgraded to out on Saturday.
The Panthers have until Wednesday, the end of Brooks’ practice window, to activate the 21-year-old running back to the roster. If they do not, Brooks must miss the remainder of the campaign.
