EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, 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 July 22's initial workout.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 the preseason opener 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.Left guard Damien Lewis (calf), who returned to practice Wednesday after a long absence, is not expected to play against the Bills, according to Canales.
