Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales seems to really like the odds of playing his second-round pick this Sunday.
Running back Jonathon Brooks, who has been sidelined for over a year due to a torn ACL, is expected to make his NFL debut in Week 12 against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Canales began his presser after Wednesday’s practice with an encouraging update on the 21-year-old rookie.
“Jonathon Brooks put together another great day,” he told reporters. “Really high hopes for him playing this Sunday.”
Canales was later asked about what he expects to see out of Brooks in his first piece of pro action.
“Yeah, I’m just hoping to see him play confident, play fast and be able to capture the style of football that he’s used to playing,” he replied. “I know that that’s gonna take time. But I believe that he’s physically ready to start that, go down that road and, particularly with Miles [Sanders] out, give us another running back in there with Chuba to be able to carry the load.”
Sanders was carted off from the Week 10 win over the New York Giants with an ankle injury. He did not participate in today’s session and is not expected to play this weekend.
