CHARLOTTE — Monday could end up being a big day for the remainder of the Carolina Panthers. With a laundry list of injured players—some before the season and some through the course of the season—the beginning of the week provided some good news for some of those names.

Rookie running back Jonathon Brooks could be on the practice field with his teammates as soon as this week, according to Dave Canales. If Brooks does begin practicing this week, it will open up the 21-day window to then place Brooks on the active roster.

"He's checked all the boxes in terms of his getting back to being able to practice, so we're hoping to open up that window today. That's a decision we're going to have to make today," Canales told reporters on Monday. "So we're going to be talking about that and we have been, but excited to potentially get him out there and see what he looks like."

The second rounder out of Texas, who was the first running back taken in this springs draft, was a home run hitter for the Longhorns in his final season in Austin. He picked up 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games, before suffering a season ending ACL injury. When he does suit up in process blue, Canales is hoping he can be the same for the Panthers.

"Explosive ability, combination of size and speed," Canales listed, as just a few of things that stood out about Brooks in college. "(His) body control I thought was really rare for what we've seen in the past couple of years.

"A really fluid catcher out of the backfield, the ability to hit the home run, to take it the distance and a natural patience in his run style. So, he has a combination of a lot of great traits that you hope for."

Even knowing what Brooks could bring, the Panthers have been purposely patient with the rookie. Not wanting to push him onto the field too soon has kept coaches hesitant when it comes to Brooks. As they make the decision on Monday, Canales said they will all put "our heads together" to evaluate.

"(It's just) making sure we feel fully confident, especially coming off the nature of an injury like this, that he gets out there and he can go for it and give us a look at what he's going to be like."

The Panthers run game has not suffered without Brooks. Starter Chuba Hubbard has been averaging a whopping 5.6 yards per carry and is third overall in rushing with 485 total yards thus far. In three of the past four games, Hubbard has surpassed 100-plus yards from scrimmage. The only game in which he didn't reach the mark, he finished with 97 yards.

When Brooks is on the field though, Hubbard sees potential for a nice balance between the two.

"We both bring two different attributes to the game, but yeah, very complementary," Hubbard said. "I'm excited to see him on the field."

And if they could come up with a few looks to get four backs on the field, along with Miles Sanders and Raheem Blackshear, Hubbard is all for it.

"If we could all be on the field at the same time, it'd be awesome," Hubbard laughed, adding he's jokingly asked for a four back set.

"But I don't know if you see that in today's age of football unless you're Army or something like that. But that'd be awesome."

Other injury updates

After weeks of hit after hit in injury news, the Panthers got some positive news beyond even Brooks on Monday. Corner Dane Jackson (hamstring) is currently in the midst of his 21-day window to return. Canales told reporters on Monday that Jackson had put "two fantastic weeks together."

"A lot of these decisions happen the next day or two for us to, to make those decisions. But (Dane's) looked great and to see if there's a chance that he can help us in some way, shape or form."

Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney missed Sunday's game with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 5 against the Bears. He will remain day-to-day, according to Canales. But as soon as he is available, they will welcome Clowney back to the field.

"We had great talks with him this weekend, just kind of moving him around throughout the whole weekend to kind of see where he's at," Canales said. "So, we're going to, again, just kind of test him and be day to day on that just seeing what we can get him.

"For Jadeveon, we'll take whatever percentage of JD that we can get, to get him out there because he certainly is a help in all phases."

Safety and special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. has been cleared to come back to practice, Canales shared.

"So, we're excited to get him back out there," Canales said. "But again, football shape, right, the football movements being out there and doing all those things. So, I'm excited to see Sam back out there."

Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, Canales said, is "coming along. Again, this is another important week. He still has to finish that last stage. He's kind of been right there. So, we're waiting to just see all that come together before we put him back out on the field to see him practice."

Rookie defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy is still in the return to play phase.