news-engine

Panthers starter to miss first game of season due to injury Linebacker Pat Jones II will not play in Week 1 The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Carolina Panthers will play their first game of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, and they will have to do so without one of their starting players. Panthers head coach Dave Canales said in a Sept. 9 press conference that starting outside linebacker Pat Jones II will not play in the Sept. 13 opener against the Chicago Bears. Jones is reportedly dealing with a back injury to start 2026 after a back injury kept him out for the final 11 games of 2025. Canales did say that the current injury is unrelated to the 2025 one, and referred to it as an “aggravation of a different side of it.” “We were able to get ahead of it, treat it,” Canales told reporters. “We do not expect him to play this week. But he’ll be week-to-week and we’re hoping that we can get him turned around pretty quickly. “With those [previous] issues, we’ve got to be smart about this and make sure that we’re bringing him back with the right cadence and making sure he’s ready to go.” ---> Also Read: Carolina Panthers head coach 1-on-1 as the 2026 season approaches Canales said Jones’ injury happened in practice when his back “just started to really tighten up on him.” The 27-year-old is entering his second season with the Panthers after they signed him in free agency last spring. At the time Carolina signed Jones, he was coming off a career-best seven-sack season with the Minnesota Vikings. In Jones’ absence, Canales indicated Princely Umanmielen, Trevis Gipson and Thomas Incoom would see expanded roles on Sunday. Jones’ injury could also put additional pressure on prized free-agent addition Jaelan Phillips, who agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract with the Panthers in March. Phillips -- also an outside linebacker -- was regarded by many as the best pass-rusher of the 2026 free-agent class. Other Panthers injury updates Jones was the only player who did not practice for Carolina on Wednesday, although running back Jonathon Brooks and defensive tackle Bobby Brown were both listed as limited on the injury report. Canales said in his press conference that he remained “very optimistic” Brooks would play and clarified he missed recent practices due to a groin injury. Brooks missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from his second ACL tear. The first happened during Brooks’ final college season at Texas. The Panthers drafted him in 2024, while he was still recovering from the first injury. Brooks -- who the team remains high on -- is expected to split time with veteran Chuba Hubbard in the Panthers’ backfield. Meanwhile Bobby Brown was dealing with some back tightness, according to Canales but was able to practice Wednesday. Looking to Sunday, the Panthers will kick off their 2026 season with a home matchup against the Chicago Bears. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m., and will be broadcast on Fox. Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.