NFC South notes: Brooks, Canales, Saints

On By Littum

Panthers rookie running back Jonathan Brooks expected to make his NFL debut after Carolina’s Week 11 bye, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Brooks was activated from the Non-Football Injury list on Nov. 6 ahead of the Panthers’ Week 10 matchup with the Giants in Germany, but remained inactive in that game. Instead, he will have to wait even longer for his first professional snaps after being drafted by Carolina with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Brooks’ debut comes against the reigning Super Bowl winners, who have held opponents to 83.2 rushing yards per game this year, third-lowest in the league. The 21-year-old running back will likely ease into the Panthers’ game plan with the teammate Chuba Hubbard ranking in the top five in rushing yards and attempts this season. With Brooks, Hubbard and Miles Sanders all signed through 2026, Carolina may consider some two-back formations to get the most out of their offense.

  • Panthers owner David Tepper has made four head coaching changes since 2022, but Dave Canales expected to keep his job despite his team’s record this year, by The Athletic’s Joseph Person. But changes to his staff may be imminent as the defense is allowing a league-worst 31.0 points per game. match and 2022 no. 1 overall choice Bryce Young still struggling to develop.
  • Though Brian Burns clearly frustrated by the lack of progress in extension negotiations with the Panthers, he did not force his way out of Carolina. “I never requested a trade,” Burns said, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. However, it was clear that the Panthers were not going to give him the $28.2MM per year contract that he eventually signed with the Giants, according to ESPN’s David Newton.
  • The Panthers needed additional salary cap space in October, so they restructured the outside linebacker contract DJ Wonnum. Carolina converted this year’s bonuses per game for a signing bonus and added three void years to the end of his contract, which expires after the 2025 season, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. His 2024 salary cap hit drops to $2.525MM with an 8.4MM cap hit in 2025.
  • The Saints faces an important quarterback contract decision Derek Carr, who has a salary cap hit of $51.5MM in 2025 with $10MM in guaranteed salary and a $10MM roster bonus. The remaining $30MM of his salary is currently guaranteed for injury, but will become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year, by Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap. New Orleans is already expected to be $63.8MM over salary cap in 2025, so they may need to consider moving on from Carr to kick-start their rebuild and help their financial situation. The Saints may consider benching Carr, just like the Broncos did Russell Wilson last year to ensure he doesn’t get injured and trigger his guarantees for the 2025 season.
  • Alvin Kamara‘s recent extension includes some specific requirements for the All-Pro running back to reach the maximum value of his contract. If he doesn’t participate in 100 percent of OTAs in 2025 — something he hasn’t done in several years — the Saints can cut his salary by $353,000, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. If Kamara records at least 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 2026, he is eligible for a $500,000 bonus for each Satin postseason victory that year, per Terrell.