Panthers' Canales: RB Brooks 'ready to rock,' will play vs. Bills

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --Carolina Panthers third-year running back Jonathon Brooks will appear in the first preseason game of his NFL career on Saturday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, against the Buffalo Bills.

Following Wednesday's padded practice, head coach Dave Canales said Brooks would "absolutely" play in the exhibition matchup, which will serve as the team's second preseason game of the summer. Brooks, who is returning from back-to-back ACL surgeries on his right knee, had never performed in an NFL training camp practice before his initial workout on July 23.

Now, he'll get to show what he can do against live contact.

"He's in great shape; he's ready to rock -- he's ready to play football," Canales said. "That's just the next part of it, and he'll play with the first group. He'll mix in and out with Chuba [Hubbard], and we'll be able to get a good look at those guys with a couple of drives."

Brooks played in three NFL games as a rookie before retearing his right ACL against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in 2024. The 2024 second-round pick's brief stretch in uniform was sandwiched between knee surgeries that sidelined him in each of his first two NFL offseasons.

Brooks will serve as Hubbard's running mate in Saturday's road affair as the bulk of the Panthers' starters make their exhibition debuts. Behind Brooks is 2025 fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne, veteran AJ Dillon, practice-squad holdover Anthony Tyus III and undrafted rookie Miles Davis.

Receiver Xavier Legette, who is working has way back from the stinger he suffered earlier in camp, is unlikely to play against the Bills, Canales added.

The former first-round pick reeled in a "walk-off touchdown" from quarterback Bryce Young to close out Wednesday's team practice. according to Canales, but is not quite ready for game action.

"It was good to see him back out there, playing like himself and playing fast," Canales said. "I don't think he'll play (Saturday). We haven't gotten him to that level of conditioning. He's doing a phenomenal job and he's a guy that we're counting on."

Left guard Damien Lewis (calf), who returned to practice Wednesday after a long absence, is also not expected to play against the Bills, according to Canales.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.br/]