Carolina

Panthers

Brooks is dealing with some soreness that the team hasn’t elaborated on any further. It’s likely maintenance for a player who has barely played any football over the past two seasons, but this is still a situation for fantasy managers to monitor. With Chuba Hubbard back at practice after missing time with a hamstring issue, we’re likely looking at a backfield by committee in Week 1. Both backs will be stuck in the RB3 ranks versus Chicago.

Brooks has now worked to the side in two straight practices and Panthers coaches are being cagy about his ailment. It’s not a great develop less than two weeks ahead of Carolina’s season opener. Chub Hubbard, meanwhile, is back at practice after being sidelined with a hamstring injury for a couple weeks. Brooks’ practice status will be very much worth monitoring in the coming days. He appears to be nothing more than a touchdown-dependent flex for right now.

The team’s plan, per Graziano, is for Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks to split carries this season. That comes as little surprise. “If Hubbard stays healthy, he’s the one in whom they’ve built up more trust, so I’d expect him to be the one the Panthers lean on to try to grind out games when they have the lead,” Graziano said. “The split should be pretty close, but it would not be a surprise at all to get to the end of the season and see that Hubbard got the majority of the work.” Brooks on Tuesday practiced to the side while Hubbard (hamstring) practiced in full. It’s a concerning situation for those who have gone in on Brooks as Carolina’s lead back.

We’re not sure what Brooks is dealing with but his practice status will be something to monitor in the coming days. Chuba Hubbard, meanwhile, is practicing in full after missing weeks with a hamstring issue. Brooks headed into 2026 with a chance to be the Panthers’ lead back after fighting back through a series of catastrophic injuries. Carolina’s backfield could prove frustrating for fantasy purposes this season.

Ewkonu suffered a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs. He is expected to return “at some point” this year, though that does not rule out a lengthy absence for the veteran tackle. Fellow starting tackle Taylor Moton was placed on the reserve/NFI list because of a blood clot in his lung. He will also miss at least four weeks.

Moore didn’t see much playing time in 2025 after posting 352 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina in 2024. The eight-year NFL veteran will likely wind up on another roster in the coming days. Carolina’s final roster cuts included defensive tackle Elijah Garcia, offensive lineman Jake Curhan, cornerback Robert Rochell, safety Isaiah Simmons, outside linebacker Cam Gill, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter, quarterback Kyle Trask, tight end James Mitchell, and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson, cornerback Cam Miller, safety Demani Richardson, outside linebacker Isaiah Smith, linebacker Maz Mwansa, defensive tackle Parker Petersen, offensive lineman Isaia Glass, cornerback Devonta Smith, linebacker Maema Njongmeta, center Nick Samac, running back Tre Tyus, cornerback Corey Thornton, wide receiver Casey Washington, wide receiver Ja’seem Reed, linebacker Trevin Wallace, and defensive tackle Jared Harrison-Hunte.

Etienne will be eligible to come off IR after the first four weeks of the 2026 regular season. He got some buzz during offseason workouts and training camp but has exceedingly little chance of seeing significant regular season snaps for Carolina. Etienne as a rookie in 2025 had 20 carries for 94 scoreless yards, functioning mostly as a kick returner. AJ Dillon will be the depth back behind Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks as things stand right now.

Edwards went undrafted last year and signed with the Chargers’ practice squad. He did not play in 2025. To be honest, we’re not really sure what the Panthers are doing here.

He’ll remain an emergency quarterback option for the team per Jeremy Fowler, which is a nice way of saying he’s not making the practice squad either. The 28-year-old former second-round pick will look for work elsewhere.

A linchpin NFL special teamer since 2020, Chisena had been with the Panthers since 2024. He made only seven regular season appearances in Charlotte, suggesting he might ultimately be a poor bet to land back on the 53-man roster this year.