Week 10 just wasn't the week for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks' NFL debut.
Head coach Dave Canales spoke to reporters this afternoon as the team returned home from Sunday about the New York Giants. Brooks was not involved in the victory added to the 53-man squad last Wednesday
Canales was asked why he kept the rookie on the sidelines.
“I took a lot of factors into account, watched his progress throughout the week and really felt like it wasn’t there yet,” he replied. “And so now we have two weeks before we play our next game to just get him in top shape. And we have to see where Miles is again [Sanders] is at. But then we can make the decision from there.”
Brooks tore a cruciate ligament in his right knee last November while playing for the University of Texas Longhorns. He did not participate in practice throughout the offseason and began the season on the reserve/non-football injured list.
The 21-year-old finally got to see the field on November 24th when the Panthers return from their upcoming bye week to host the Kansas City Chiefs.
As Canales noted, Brooks' status could also depend on the prospects for his colleague in Sanders – the Played yesterday with a foot/ankle injury.
