Panthers vs. Bills Preview: All Eyes on Jonathon Brooks

The Carolina Panthers head to Buffalo on Saturday for a preseason matchup with the Bills, but for Carolina, this game is about much more than simply getting through August. With several starters expected to see the field, the Panthers will get an important early look at how their offense is coming together ahead of the regular season.

The biggest storyline, however, may be at running back.

With Chuba Hubbard currently sidelined by a hamstring injury and considered week to week, Jonathon Brooks is expected to receive a significant opportunity against Buffalo.

For Brooks, Saturday represents a major milestone. The former Texas standout is preparing to play his first NFL game since suffering his second ACL tear, an injury that kept him out for the entire 2025 season. Panthers head coach Dave Canales has indicated that Brooks is ready to play and will get work with the first-team offense.

The Panthers have been waiting to see what Brooks can look like when healthy. Carolina selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft because of his combination of vision, explosiveness and ability to contribute as a receiver. Now, after an extended recovery, he finally gets a chance to show those traits in a live game.

The focus shouldn’t necessarily be on his statistics. Instead, watch how Brooks moves, how confidently he plants on his repaired knee, and whether he still has the burst that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of Texas.

On the other side, Buffalo will use the preseason to evaluate its own depth and positional battles. That could create opportunities for young Panthers players to make an impression as the game progresses.

For Carolina fans, though, the headline is simple: Jonathon Brooks is finally back. Saturday’s game against Buffalo could be the first real glimpse of what the Panthers’ young running back can become in 2026.