The Carolina Panthers seem prepared to unleash their second-round pick in Week 12.
According to head coach Dave Canales, the team will not adhere to a "pitch count" for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks —who is set to make his NFL debut in this Sunday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs . The 21-year-old rusher has been sidelined since tearing his ACL last November.
"Not thinking pitch count," Canales told reporters of Brooks on Friday afternoon. "He's gotta be ready to play a full game. If something did happen and Chuba [Hubbard] broke a shoelace and he's gotta get that fixed for a second, JB will be ready to go."
Brooks will presumably play the No. 2 to Hubbard, who enters the weekend as the league's fourth-leading rusher. Hubbard is also coming off a career-high 153 rushing yards in the Week 10 win over the New York Giants .
That backup role has been taken up this season by veteran Miles Sanders . Sanders, however, has been ruled out of the contest with an ankle injury.
Famous celebrities who are Carolina Panthers fans
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero: We have to 'keep the pocket dirty' on Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard 'good' after dislocating knee during career day
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers HC Dave Canales: Jonathon Brooks will not be on pitch count in NFL debut
