Team news: Carolina Panthers

Princely Umanmielen (ankle), Jalen Coker (quad) and Derrick Brown are all in uniform but are working with a trainer away from the rest of the group to start practice.

Darren Walller (toe), Monroe Freeling (red jersey - non-contact - concussion), and Chuba Hubbard all working with teammates.

Related Players: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Darren Waller, Brycen Tremayne, John Metchie

Side work represents some progress from Wednesday’s absence, but Coker remains at risk of missing Sunday night’s game. His late kickoff makes a Friday update particularly important for managers considering him as a WR3 or flex. An absence would strengthen McMillan’s target outlook, while Waller could receive additional underneath work, and Carolina would need Tremayne, Metchie, or the injured Legette to absorb more WR reps.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young never came out of Sunday’s loss to the Browns, but he was moving gingerly after a sack in the first half and he’ll be going for some tests to kick off this week.

Head coach Dave Canales didn’t specify what body part Young injured when he got kicked during the game and said that he thinks the quarterback will be fine for their Week 4 trip to Detroit, but that he’ll get imaging done to make sure there’s nothing more going on.

The Panthers are just taking precaution it sounds like. The story quoted Canales as saying "He was sore a little bit. I think he took a cleat, I can’t remember exactly where. There was some soreness, he was able to battle through it."

Panthers WR Jalen Coker, who left Sunday's game early, suffered a minor quad strain, source said.

Related players: Xavier Legette

It's certainly good news it's being called a minor injury. After a great Week 1, Coker had a solid Week 2 but has since been dealing with some minor injuries, including an ankle heading into Week 2. The report went on to say Coker is considered questionable for this week, so it looks like the injury reports later in the week will hopefully give us a better indication of his Week 4 status. The Panthers get a Sunday night prime time game next week at home against the Lions, so owners may have to come up with a backup plan. Legette would likely have a bigger role if Coker has to miss the game.

Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks, who left Sunday’s win early, is expected to have surgery today to repair a core muscle injury that will land him on Injured Reserve, sources say.

Brooks is out at least 6 weeks, but should return with plenty of time to contribute down the stretch.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, A.J. Dillon, Austin Ekeler, Ahmani Marshall

Brooks can remain stashed in deeper leagues with sufficient IR space. Hubbard should continue handling the overwhelming majority of Carolina’s backfield work, with Dillon serving as the primary reserve. The Panthers also worked out Austin Ekeler on Wednesday, suggesting they may add another experienced option behind Hubbard.

Panthers WR Jalen Coker (ankle) said he doesn’t expect to miss time.

Coker had a boot on his left foot in the locker room after the game, but the post said Coker commented, “Just rolled my ankle a little bit.” The post went on to say the injury happened in the first quarter and this boot is precautionary. It's good news Coker returned and put up big numbers, but it's still worth keeping an eye on as players tend to be optimistic about their status. Coker is going to be a huge waiver wire pickup this week in typical leagues. He had a line of 8-132-2 in Week 1.

Jonathon Brooks is expected to share the backfield workload in 2026 with Chuba Hubbard, the Panthers' returning starter, and as Rico Dowdle proved last season, having a tandem to ride the hot hand in the backfield is important in any offense.

"Yeah, we'll definitely roll it out just the way we have been," Canales said last month. "Where you have a lead back for the series, the other guy comes in on third down so they can be in there for the protection, and also we run the ball on third down. So those are good opportunities to just keep a guy into the game, while the other person, whether it's Chuba or [Brooks], we'll make that decision when we get closer.

"But whoever the lead guy for the base downs is, they'll get the bulk of that rhythm."

Related players: A.J. Dillon

The team said last week they are optimistic Brooks will play in Week 1, but we may have to wait until Wednesday for another update, based on the story. Many feel Brooks will end up as the team's lead back - most weeks, after Hubbard - most weeks - was behind Dowdle in the RB pecking order last season. But it remains to be seen what kind of workload Brooks gets early in the season, especially now coming off general soreness in camp. Until we know more, both backs may be a bit risky for lineups outside of deeper flex options.

Asked how Darren Waller has looked, Dave Canales said: "Big and fast."

Related players: Tommy Tremble, Ja'Tavion Sanders

Person went on to say the Panthers used a slow ramp up with Waller this summer after his soft-tissue issues with the Dolphins coming off his one-yr retirement. But the veteran TE expects to be active Sunday vs. the Bears, Person added. Waller had some nice games last season getting back into action. He had six TDs in nine games, but those six TDs came in just four different contests. Waller averaged just 2.67 catches a game last year and had three or less catches in seven of his nine games. The Panthers TE situation seems like one to wait-and-see on, especially with a questionable passing game and QB situation. The Panthers have Tremble and Sanders on the roster as well.

For any worried Panthers fans out there, Jonathon Brooks seems to be moving well.

Related players: Chuba Hubbard

The video is about 28 seconds of Brooks working off to the side in practice, which has been a recent trend. He does appear to be moving fine in the video. Gaskins said HC Dave Canales and the team will evaluate the tape after practice and that we'd likely know more Wednesday when initial injury reports are released.

Dave Canales: "Very optimistic" that RB Jonathon Brooks will be available for Week 1 vs. the Bears.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, Trevor Etienne

Canales’ optimism mostly removes the immediate concern created by Brooks’ unexplained soreness. Carolina has indicated that Brooks and Hubbard will form a committee when both are healthy, but Brooks’ 11-spot advantage over ADP reflects his superior upside within that arrangement.

Canales: If Chuba Hubbard is good to go, it will be RB by committee (with Jonathan Brooks) in Week 1.

Hubbard has been dealing with a hamstring injury and is looking to get healthy before the start of the season. It shouldn't be a surprise the team is going to use both backs, but it's possible one emerges as the leader. That's something we'll likely have to wait and see on. For our money, we have Brooks ranked higher on our RB list, but we all know about the major knee injuries over the past three seasons. It looks like Brooks is finally healthy and the team may ease him into a bigger workload early in the season. If he can survive that, Brooks should have more fantasy value for the long term.