Dave Canales sees exactly what the Panthers hoped for from Jonathon Brooks during his first ever day of training camp
The Carolina Panthers wrapped up the first day of training camp and while it was a somber day due to a potentially significant injury, there was added optimism surrounding RB Jonathon Brooks.
The Carolina Panthers wrapped up the first day of training camp on Thursday, which turned into a somber first day of camp after second-year defensive end Nic Scourton went down with a right knee injury and had to be carted off the field.
Head coach Dave Canales did not want to speculate on the extent of Scourton’s injury, noting the young edge rusher will undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury. Practice was briefly stopped as players gathered around to show support for Scourton before finishing out the session.
The Panthers did get some uplifting signs of encouragement during Thursday’s first day of camp, however, after seeing running back Jonathon Brooks continue to run around with no restrictions in what was actually his first ever day of training camp in the NFL.
Dave Canales continues heaping praise on Jonathon Brooks following his first day of camp
Brooks was drafted by the Panthers in the second-round of the 2024 NFL Draft but missed the start of his rookie season due to a torn ACL he suffered during his final season at Texas. Brooks first appeared in Week 12 during his rookie campaign, but tragically suffered another ACL tear to his right knee two weeks later.
The second injury forced Brooks to miss the entire 2025-26 season yet the Panthers continued to have full support in his eventual return. Brooks was back on the field with his teammates throughout the offseason program, showing off the electric burst that once made him the 46th overall pick two years ago.
Thursday was Brooks’ first ever day of training camp in his NFL career and it was another step forward that the Panthers will finally cash in on years of patience.
“Really looking forward to just the hard work that JB has had to do over the last couple of years to get him to this point,” Canales explained. “He feels great, he feels strong, he looks fast. He looks like the guy that I remember and I’m really excited for that.
“For a guy to go through things and to be able to have the emotional, mental, resiliency to go through that training twice to get himself back, this is a celebration. You can feel the gratitude on him, you can feel the focus, and how important this opportunity is for him.”
Brooks will have a clear path to be the complement to Chuba Hubbard in the backfield after the team let Rico Dowdle walk in free agency. The real upside to see is whether or not Brooks is ready to handle the lead role for this offense.