Panthers expected to open practice window for rookie running back Jonathan Brooks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers are preparing to open the practice window this week for rookie running back Jonathan Brooks, the team’s second-round draft pick from Texas.

Brooks tore the ACL in his knee last November while playing for the Longhorns and has not practiced with the Panthers since being drafted.

The 21-year-old Brooks is likely at least a few weeks away from being added to the 53-man roster given his lack of on-field practice time. The Panthers will have 21 days to activate him to the roster once they open the practice window.

“He has explosive ability and a combination of size and speed and his body control is really rare from what we've seen in the past couple of years,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “Really fluid (pass) catcher out of the backfield with an ability to hit the home run. He has a natural patience in his run style, so he has a combination of a lot of great traits that you hope for."

Of all of the areas that the Panthers (1-5) have struggled in this season — and there are certainly plenty — running back hasn't been one of them.

Chuba Hubbard has been excellent this season, having his fourth straight game of at least 90 yards rushing in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Hubbard is averaging more than 5.8 yards per carry over the past five weeks and has run extremely hard.

Miles Sanders is the No. 2 back.

As for where Brooks would fit into the backfield mix, Canales said that is something that will be determined down the road and will be highly dependent on what Brooks shows in practice.

Hubbard continues to churn out the tough yards, which has been a big boost for the offense. And perhaps Canales should lean on him even more. The Panthers were doing that on Sunday, but then got away from it. Down by eight, Hubbard responded by picking up three first downs on four consecutive runs. But Canales called for a pass and Andy Dalton's downfield throw was intercepted, leading to a game-clinching touchdown by the Falcons.

Carolina's defense is bad — historically bad. The Panthers have allowed 203 points through six games (33.8 points per game) this season, which is the ninth most in the NFL in the Super Bowl era. Carolina has allowed 24 touchdowns — 12 rushing and 12 passing — this season and allowed its opponents to score TDs on 75% of their trips inside the 20.

It didn't help defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's cause when the Panthers traded away top edge rusher Brian Burns and cornerback Donte Jackson in the offseason. And the injuries to defensive end Derrick Brown, linebackers Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell and cornerback Dane Jackson have caused problems leaving the team with limited talent and little depth.

Panthers rookie WR Xavier Legette had three catches for 23 yards and caught his second career TD pass against the Falcons, celebrating once again by pretending to ride a horse. Now the Panthers need him to be more consistent and put up bigger numbers as he progresses through his rookie season. Legette is still trying to figure out how to use his big body, but is starting to become a unique option on fade routes in the end zone because of his size.

Punt team. For the second time this season Johnny Hekker had a punt partially blocked, and this one helped turn the tide as the Falcons were able to take over in Carolina territory, leading to a score.

The Panthers failed to get a sack on Sunday with Jadeveon Clowney sidelined with a shoulder injury. He is listed as day to day, along with right tackle Taylor Moton (triceps). The Panthers still could be a little ways from getting LB D.J. Wonnum on the field. He has been on IR all season.

200 — Yards rushing allowed to Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.

The Panthers have back-to-back games on the road, heading to Washington (4-2) and then Denver (3-3).

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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (22) returns a punt against Carolina Panthers cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (26) in the first half of an NFL football game against the in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) scores a touchdown against Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (8) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) walks the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) scores a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (22) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) scores a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (22) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs the ball and is tackled by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) celebrates his 38-yard touchdown run with Ikem Ekwonu (79) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Germany on Saturday was still in shock and struggling to understand the suspect behind the attack in the city of Magdeburg.

Identified by local media as 50-year-old Taleb A., a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist, authorities said he has been living in Germany for two decades. He was arrested on site after plowing a black BMW into a Christmas market crowded with holiday shoppers Friday evening, killing at least five people and wounding about 200 others.

Prominent German terrorism expert Peter Neumann posted on X that he had yet to come across a suspect in an act of mass violence with that profile.

Taleb’s X account is filled with tweets and retweets focusing on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the religion while sharing congratulatory notes to Muslims who left the faith. He also described himself as a former Muslim.

He was critical of German authorities, saying they had failed to do enough to combat the “Islamism of Europe.”

He has also voiced support for the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Some described Taleb as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their homeland. Recently, he seemed focused on his theory that German authorities have been targeting Saudi asylum seekers.

Neumann, the terrorism expert, wrote: “After 25 years in this ‘business’ you think nothing could surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim who lives in East Germany, loves the AfD and wants to punish Germany for its tolerance towards Islamists — that really wasn’t on my radar."

On Saturday, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters: “At this point, we can only say for sure that the perpetrator was evidently Islamophobic – we can confirm that. Everything else is a matter for further investigation and we have to wait.”

A German-based organization called Athiest Refugee Relief said the alleged attacker was not a part of the group and claimed that he made “numerous accusations and claims” against it and former board members, which it said were false.

“We distance ourselves from him in the strongest terms," the group said in a statement on its website, adding that members of Atheist Refugee Relief filed a criminal complaint against him in 2019 following “the most foul slander and verbal attacks."

An image taken from a video shows police officers arresting a suspect after car drove into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, Friday Dec. 20, 2024. (TNN/DPA via AP)

A person stands by flowers and candles placed outside St. John's Church near a Christmas Market, where a car drove into a crowd on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)