Orchestrating his first NFL Draft, Dan Morgan selected damaged goods. He knew it and didn’t hesitate. With Jonathon Brooks still on the board at No. 46 overall, the Carolina Panthers’ rookie general manager pounced. He would wait as the ex-Texas running back recovers from a late-season ACL injury. Now that the Panthers are through the first week of training camp, there’s some more news.
Carolina Panthers Notebook: Training Camp News
“I think for us, we value the running backs and we value the running game,” Morgan said after selecting the first running back of the Detroit draft. “They are valuable to us because we are going to be running the ball. I think to have a guy like Jonathon Brooks, he was a guy we loved and identified.”
Watch: Jonathon Brooks Film Study
The Panthers have him, but last April Brooks said he expected to suit up for training camp. The wait will be longer. Panthers coach Dave Canales revealed after Saturday’s training camp workout that Brook likely will not be healthy enough to play until at least Week 4 of the regular season.
“It’s something that we expected, even just coming into the spring, we just knew that the timeline and the progression of where he was at,” Canales said. “We knew we were not going to have him for the preseason. And even if he was kind of ready, you know, it’s still a confidence thing. We want to be able to just ramp him up, little by little, to the point where he feels ready to go. So, it’s kind of been in the works.”
With Brooks sidelined, the Panthers are prepared to enter the preseason with a depth chart of veterans Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear and Mike Boone and undrafted rookies Jaden Shirden and Dillon Johnson.
The Panthers’ training camp continues Sunday at the new practice facility behind Bank of America Stadium.
@Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss entire @NFL preseason … pic.twitter.com/TI9ZOtdmcW
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 3, 2024
Panthers Seek Backup QB For Preseason Games
As quarterback Andy Dalton continues to deal with an injured quad, Canales said: “We’re definitely gonna bring a QB in.”
When the new backup signs, likely Sunday or Monday, the Panthers coach said he expects the newcomer to be able to handle some series against the Patriots on Thursday. undrafted rookie Jack Plummer will get the majority of snaps, Canales said.
“We’re working on (adding a QB) with our roster numbers,” Canales said. “As we get a little bit banged up in camp, it’s just you have to create spots for those players. We have to put our brains together with the personnel and coaching staff to say where does that number come from to be able to add that quarterback.
“But we’re definitely gonna need him to come in and function in our first preseason game.”
Dalton, who did not wear a helmet but did done a pair of sunglasses, was a limited participant during Saturday’s practice. He is expected to miss about two weeks, Canales said.
Injured @Panthers QB Andy Dalton was a limited participant Saturday. He nearly hit the biggest pass of the @NFL training camp practice … pic.twitter.com/moAQhmB6CU
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 3, 2024
Panthers Make Moves
The Panthers made two moves Saturday, signing veteran defensive back Anthony Brown and safety Clayton Isbell. A 2016 sixth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys, Brown compiled 324 career tackles and 29 interceptions. Last season, he spent time on the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets’ practice squads. In corresponding moves, the Panthers waived defensive back Kiondre Thomas and tight end Curtis Hodges.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
