CHARLOTTE – The Panthers continue to get healthier and will add another piece this week.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that he expects rookie running back Jonathon Brooks to play this week.

"I fully expect JB to make his debut this week against the Chiefs," Canales said following the Panthers first practice post bye week.

"We have some practices to go through to make sure we're ready to go there. Same thing with Adam Thielen, just get him out there. They were running around today. We'll have a couple of practices to make that decision, but my hope is to have both of those guys out there on Sunday."

Thielen has not played since Week 3, after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. But it will be Brooks' first time in a Panthers uniform. He spent the offseason and first half of the regular season rehabbing from an ACL tear suffered last November while still in college.

The first running back taken in the draft this past spring, the Texas product is familiar with the process of waiting. He tested his patience with the Longhorns as well, sitting behind Falcons star Bijan Robinson for two years before he had this own breakout year.

The Panthers have been steady with Brooks' recovery since he arrived in Charlotte, even holding him out of the Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants, despite activating him earlier in the week.

"I mean, I feel a lot stronger throughout the rehab, the reps in practice, just the mental and physical part of it," Brooks said of the long road to this point. "I feel a whole lot better. Obviously of any injury, the more time you have, the better you'll feel."

While the knee may feel better, his emotions are still in question. When he suits up on Sunday, he still isn't sure what that moment will be like, because it's one he's never experienced in the league.

"I feel like however I feel is however I feel, I mean, I won't know until I'm in the moment," Brooks said Monday. "But I can just picture it just being a good feeling, a great feeling, blessed and, just ready for it."

Asked if Brooks would be on a pitch count, Canales said, "not really." Now that he's ready to play, they just want him to play. Of course, the presence of Chuba Hubbard has something to do with that, as Miles Sanders has the only 38 non-Hubbard rushing attempts for the team this season.

"We'll have a game plan, for how to play (him), but we're not really looking for a specific number," Canales said. "I think once—that's the whole thing, is when you get a guy ready to play on Sunday, the confidence should be that he can go out and just play a normal football game. And so that's what we want to make sure happens."

Thielen and Sanders updates

As mentioned above, Canales also expects Thielen to be ready this week. Before the hamstring injury, Thielen had eight catches on 12 targets, for 109 yards and a touchdown through two-and-a-half games.

After suffering what he called "a couple of setbacks" and his body not being ready to go, Thielen is cautiously optimistic about playing this week versus the Chiefs. But after a bye week to stack onto the recovery, things are trending in the right direction.

"I mean, obviously a lot of days from now until the game, but encouraged with how today went," Thielen said Monday. "But still have to gain some ground to feel really good about playing on Sunday, but definitely encouraged, took full advantage of the week and excited to at least be back out there moving around and being with my team."

Sanders suffered an ankle injury versus the Giants in Germany, and Canales said he does not expect Sanders to play this week.

"Just taking more and more information in on an ankle injury," Canales said. "So, we'll just have to take that in weekly right now and then we'll give you a more concrete decision once we have more information going forward."

The center of it all

A year removed from a line problem that plagued the whole offense, the Panthers now have an abundance of riches in the group. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is preparing to return to the field this week after recovering from an ankle injury in Week 8. In his absence, Brady Christensen had been playing left tackle.

Christensen was playing center before Ekwonu's injury, but Cade Mays took over at that spot the last two weeks. With the latter's return, coaches have to weigh now where to put Christensen, given Mays' solid play the last two games. Both took snaps at center Monday during the portion of practice open to the media.

"So, we got a decision to make there with, with Brady and Cade, and Cade who's played really two solid games with Bryce (Young). And going back with Bryce again this week, you know, that factors into our decision," Canales said. "But I can't say enough good about Brady and what he did for us, you know, going to center and then popping out to left tackle, which is really rare. And really, you know, a valuable player for us."

Added Ekwonu of Christensen: "I mean, I say it like all the time, but I think it's really impressive, like the versatility. Obviously, we've been talking about it a lot, but to actually just put it on tape as much as he has like really impressive."

That versatility will factor into the decision about what to do at center, as much as anything else, Canales admitted. In other words, Christensen is their swing lineman, and his availability could be key.

"There's a swing tackle, there's a backup center, he really can play all five spots," Canales said. "But again, something that, again, what's the right football thing to do, first and foremost. So, we have to make sure that we make the right decision this week."

A 30,000 foot view

While both Thielen and Ekwonu are looking to return to play this week, their time on the sideline in recent weeks has afforded a spectator's point of view to the Panthers offense. From back-to-back wins to the advent of the rookie duo of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, the veteran receiver Thielen has seen important strides in the offense.

"I think just the confidence of the group, not just the group but certain individuals, just the confidence of, 'all right, I can play at a high level. Now I got to focus on the little things'" Thielen explained. "And then you kind of see the light bulb turn on when you see the guys do those little things and kind of do some of those things that they've been coached to do and then have success while doing that.

"So, it's been really fun for me to be somewhat of a coach or whatever you want to call it. I'd rather be on the field. Like I told coach the other day, I'd rather be on the field playing, but I do enjoy that part of the game and seeing those guys have success, especially in my room. And then even Bryce the last few weeks just having success."

While in Germany, Hubbard also posted a career best game with 153 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He is currently fourth in the league in rushing with 818 yards. Canales has promised to be stubborn with the run game, and Ekwonu sees it finally coming to fruition with a dependable consistency.

"They've been running the ball really well, I feel like," Ekwonu bragged. "We had some spurts earlier on in the season, but I feel like the consistency level has been just that much higher in the last couple of weeks. So, it's definitely been fun to see, being a fan the last couple of weeks, definitely been fun watching them ground and pound."