The first day of Panthers training camp saw running back Jonathon Brooks on the practice field. That’s a significant development for the 2024 second-round pick. Brooks made a late debut as a rookie because he was recovering from a torn ACL and his run ended when he tore the same ACL again in his third game. Brooks missed all of last season while recovering and said in April that he was feeling close to 100 percent after an extended rehab period. On Thursday, head coach Dave Canales said Brooks resembled the player that the team was so high on when he came out of Texas. “Really looking forward to, just the hard work that JB has had to do over the last couple of years to get him to this point ,” Canales said, via the team’s website. “He feels great. He feels strong. He looks fast; he looks like the guy that I remember, and I’m really excited for that. But more so just, for a guy to go through things and to be able to have the emotional and mental resiliency to go through that training twice, to get himself back, this is a celebration, and you can feel the gratitude in him; you can feel the focus and how important this opportunity is for him.” The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard and Trevor Etienne back from last year’s team, but Rico Dowdle moved on to Pittsburgh after leading the team in rushing and that should leave the door open for Brooks to grab a share of the backfield work if he continues to impress the coaching staff
This article ranks the top 10 running back duos in the NFL for the 2026 season, considering individual stardom, balanced backfields, and recent production against projections. It also includes honorable mentions and discusses specific player pairings and their potential impact
Carolina Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks is practicing with the first-team offense as he returns from consecutive season-ending knee injuries. He has a chance to earn a significant role in 2026, with veteran Chuba Hubbard currently atop the depth chart and Rico Dowdle no longer with the team
Preview of the Eagles' Week 10 game against the Steelers, noting key additions like HC Mike McCarthy, CB Jamel Dean, RB Rico Dowdle, and WR Michael Pittman, and subtractions like HC Mike Tomlin, G Isaac Seumalo, and RB Kenneth Gainwell. The article references last season's energy with Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin
Training camp battles loom for several teams, particularly at tight end for the Chargers with additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku alongside returning Oronde Gadsden. In Carolina, Chuba Hubbard faces competition from a healthy Jonathon Brooks for the starting running back job. Meanwhile, the Browns will see Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders competing for the starting quarterback position
It is Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed. We’re now on Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit a Thanksgiving blowout that became historic because of one unbelievable defensive play. The Cowboys entered Thanksgiving 2023 at 7-3, still perfect at home and trying to keep pressure on Philadelphia in the NFC East. Washington came in at 4-7, with Sam Howell throwing for a ton of yards but also taking sacks and turning the ball over at a high rate. Dallas did not explode immediately. The Cowboys’ first touchdown came late in the first quarter after a 90-yard drive, with Prescott finding Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard score. Washington answered in the second quarter with a Joey Slye field goal, but Dallas regained control before halftime. Prescott found Brandin Cooks for a 31-yard touchdown, Tony Pollard scored from seven yards out with 26 seconds left in the half, and the Cowboys went to the locker room up 20-10. The third quarter was quiet on the scoreboard, but the fourth quarter became a holiday avalanche. Brandon Aubrey opened the quarter with a 52-yard field goal, then Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 15-yard touchdown and found Lamb again for the two-point conversion. A few minutes later, Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin for a 34-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 38-10 and turning the game into a full Thanksgiving party at AT&T Stadium. Then came the historic moment of the day. With 4:39 left, Howell threw toward the sideline, DaRon Bland jumped the route, and suddenly history was in motion. He intercepted the pass, spun away from traffic, dodged multiple Washington players, and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth pick-six of the 2023 season, breaking the NFL single-season record for interception returns for touchdowns. The play put Dallas ahead 45-10 and transformed an already-dominant win into one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games in Cowboys and NFL history. This game belongs on the countdown because it was more than another Thanksgiving rout. It was the day Bland turned a great season into a record-breaking one, doing it on one of the NFL’s most visible stages. The Cowboys improved to 8-3, extended their home winning streak, and gave fans the perfect holiday celebration. DaRon Bland’s pick-six was his fifth of the 2023 season, breaking the NFL single-season record. He passed Eric Allen , Jim Kearney, and Ken Houston, who had shared the previous record with four. Countdown To Kickoff by day: 1 00 , 99 , 98 , 97 , 96 , 95 , 94 , 93 , 92 , 91 , 90 , 89 , 88 , 87 , 86 , 85 , 84 , 83 , 82 , 81 , 80 , 79 , 78 , 77 , 76 , 75 , 74 , 73 , 72 , 71 , 70 , 69 , 68 , 67 , 66 , 65 , 64 , 63 , 62 , 61 , 60
Not everyone is buying into the Steelers ’ outlook entering the 2026 season. In his latest NFL power rankings , Yahoo Sports senior writer Frank Schwab slotted Pittsburgh at No. 20 in the league, making it clear he has significant doubts about the direction of the franchise under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy. Schwab was particularly critical of the Steelers’ coaching hire, suggesting the organization opted for familiarity over a bold change after moving on from longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. “The Steelers could have swung big on a young coach rising through the ranks,” Schwab wrote. He continued by questioning whether McCarthy will be able to elevate Pittsburgh beyond the level it reached under Tomlin. “Instead, they settled for Mike McCarthy, who at 62 years old seems like a knockoff version of Tomlin with all the same criticisms of not being able to raise a team’s ceiling to an elite level.” Schwab also suggested the Steelers may have been influenced by McCarthy’s Western Pennsylvania roots. “McCarthy is from Western Pennsylvania and it seemed like the Steelers got caught up with a fun homecoming story rather than trying to change the course of the team.” Those are strong words for a coach who enters Pittsburgh with a Super Bowl championship and nearly two decades of head coaching experience. Schwab’s evaluation wasn’t entirely negative, however. He handed the Steelers a B grade for their offseason additions, praising the team’s work in free agency. He specifically highlighted the signings of cornerback Jamel Dean , safety Jaquan Brisker and running back Rico Dowdle as moves that should improve the roster. Where Schwab remains skeptical is at quarterback. The Steelers are once again betting on Aaron Rodgers , who reunites with McCarthy after the pair won Super Bowl XLV together in Green Bay. While that history is undeniable, Schwab believes Rodgers’ age makes expecting a bounce-back season a risky proposition. “Rodgers had some of the NFL’s greatest single seasons with Mike McCarthy coaching him, but their last season together was eight years ago.” He added that history isn’t on Rodgers’ side. “If Rodgers improves upon last season, at an age in which only one quarterback has had any success, it would be a surprise. But the Steelers happily signed up for this plan.” Schwab concluded with a pessimistic outlook for Pittsburgh’s season, acknowledging the defense has the potential to rebound but questioning whether that improvement is guaranteed after its regression a year ago. “The defense could be better, but that’s far from a guarantee after a big step back.” His prediction for the AFC North was equally blunt. “The Steelers will be better than the Browns, that seems safe. But a third-place finish in the AFC North, and their first losing season in a while, seems to be firmly on the table.” Whether Schwab’s projection proves accurate remains to be seen, but it’s clear he views the Steelers as a team with far more questions than answers entering the 2026 campaign. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Ryan Clark sees familiar season in Steelers’ future Steelers urged to trade for Jacksonville Jaguars top offensive lineman Hines Ward raves about Steelers rookie OT Max Iheanachor Steelers legend Hines Ward opens up about coaching journey Former Steelers OC Todd Haley says Pittsburgh WRs could mimic legendary trio
Aaron Rodgers has confirmed that the 2026 season will be his final one in the NFL. He will play his last season with the Steelers, aiming for an improved performance after a successful first year that saw them win a division title. Rodgers' earlier commitment to the team allowed him to participate in OTAs and minicamp, fostering better chemistry with teammates like Rico Dowdle, Michael Pittman, and Germie Bernard
The Steelers are projecting their 2026 53-man roster, with Will Howard seemingly set to be QB2 behind Aaron Rodgers, potentially leading to a trade of Mason Rudolph. The running back room will likely feature Dowdle and Warren as the top two, with Travis Homer securing a spot due to special teams ability. At wide receiver, Metcalf, Pittman, Bernard, Skowronek, and Wetjen are considered safe, with competition for the WR4 spot between Roman Wilson and Noah Brown, and Curtis Samuel also a possibility
The Pittsburgh Steelers made several notable upgrades to their offense. At the beginning of the offseason, they traded for wide receiver Michael Pittman and signed running back Rico Dowdle . In the 2026 NFL Draft, they added wide receiver Germie Bernard after trading up for him. Despite the additions, there are those who remain skeptical about Pittsburgh. One of those skeptics is Bill Barnwell of ESPN, who ranks Pittsburgh’s group of skill position players as the No. 21 unit in the NFL. “Another offseason brought another trade for an expensive wide receiver by an organization that had developed a reputation for finding its own in the middle rounds of the draft,” Barnwell writes . “Michael Pittman Jr. is a good fit for what Aaron Rodgers wants to do (get the ball out quickly for short completions) but a bad fit for what the Steelers need (a wide receiver who can stretch teams downfield). Second-round pick Germie Bernard should be an upgrade on Calvin Austin III , and it’s fair to pin the problems creating big plays on the quarterback and his desire to stay clean, but the Steelers need to find a way to create explosive plays in 2026.” Barnwell adds that the inconsistency of DK Metcalf is a large reason why the Steelers are so low on the list. “[Metcalf] had games when that seemed possible in 2025, but it was a boom-or-bust season,” Barnwell writes. “He had four games with 85 receiving yards or more, and he didn’t top 55 yards in any of his other 12 contests.” Barnwell acknowledges that there are good players in the offense, but the Steelers need Metcalf to become the Pro Bowl talent he was early on in his career. “There are fun players around the receivers,” Barnwell writes. “ Jaylen Warren has been able to handle almost exactly half of a running back rotation reasonably well. Rico Dowdle was prime Marshawn Lynch for a couple of weeks last season. Darnell Washington is one of the least fun players to tackle on the planet. Pat Freiermuth can go missing for stretches, but he’s also still capable enough to produce big games, like the 111-yard, two-score performance he put together in the shootout against the Bengals last season. There are no bad players here, but they could really use a vintage season from Metcalf.” The aforementioned additions should open things up for Metcalf, rather than allow defenses to make him their sole focus. Should Pittman, Bernard, and the run game all prove to be the high-quality additions many believe them to be, Pittsburgh’s offense very well could surprise many in 2026. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! NFL analyst tabs Steelers’ Mike McCarthy as NFL Coach of the Year candidate C.J. Stroud emerges as Steelers 2027 QB option Steelers sign versatile defensive back to one-year deal Steelers named landing spot for All-Pro WR Stefon Diggs Steelers unable to draft QB Brendan Sorsby, per NFL ruling
The Carolina Panthers enter a pivotal season in what has been the Bryce Young era of the franchise. The QB is entering his fourth NFL season and this will likely make-or-break his future with the Panthers. But while Young has shown flashes of upside in the passing game, Carolina has shown it wants to run the ball to take pressure off the young QB. The team didn't find much success on the ground last season, outside of a short stretch of play from Rico Dowdle in mid-October to early-November. With Dowdle gone, Chuba Hubbard will resume his role as the top running back. But might another forgotten early-round pick — Jonathon Brooks — emerge as a fantasy asset in the backfield? Yahoo analyst Justin Boone was joined by Sharp Football's Rich Hribar to talk Brooks' outlook for 2026 on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Hribar mentions how unsuccessful the Panthers were running the ball toward the back half of the 2025 season, ranking near the bottom in success rate, yards per carry and explosive runs. Hubbard was playing through a calf injury last season that held him back and he should enter 2026 healthy. But if Hubbard falters early on, Hribar believes the door is open for Brooks to take over. Brooks, a second-rounder back in 2024, hasn't played since his rookie season, in which he tore his ACL a second time (after tearing it in college at Texas). Hribar makes it clear that he's "no doctor" but some have said Brooks should come back from the second tear stronger. So, the back coming off two ACL tears may not be as big a glaring red flag as one would think. Brooks' fantasy football value really comes down to how Hubbard looks early on, but Hribar is taking shots on both players going into 2026. Boone chimes in at the end that Brooks is turning 23 years old in July, still very young without a lot of miles on his legs after sitting out all of 2025. That should give him a shot to get his career back on track
Fantasy managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who's actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we're shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2026. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Over the next week, I'll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we're taking a look at running backs. More Sleeper Picks from Boone : QB | RB | WR | TE Brooks was viewed as the future of Carolina's backfield when the team selected him as a 21-year-old in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Had it not been for an ACL tear in his final collegiate season, Brooks may have gone in Round 1. Even though Brooks was recovering from the serious knee injury, the expectation was that he could eventually emerge as a three-down back as early as the stretch run of his rookie season. However, his return only lasted three games before suffering another ACL tear, which has sidelined him ever since. That brief glimpse of him in NFL action included a nine-touch, 41-yard outing in Week 13 while playing just 21% of the snaps. He also flashed his versatile skill set, with 23 of those yards coming on three receptions. Now, after missing the entire 2025 campaign, Brooks is back at practice and expected to be a significant part of the Panthers' ground game in 2026, alongside Chuba Hubbard. The 27-year-old Hubbard is just one season removed from a 1,366-yard, 11-touchdown season that made him the RB12 in fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to repeat those numbers in 2025. Hubbard battled injuries and tougher competition for touches with Rico Dowdle stealing the starting job halfway through the year. While Hubbard remains the favorite to open the year as the lead back, it's easy to envision Brooks eating into his workload and usurping him on the depth chart during the season. Even baking in the uncertainty around whether Brooks can regain his pre-injury form, there's almost zero risk involved for fantasy managers who want to draft him this year — with Brooks going off the board outside the top 100 picks as the RB37 in ADP. I'm valuing Brooks as a high-upside sleeper and potential RB3/flex option, with a chance for him to emerge as a fantasy RB2 by the end of the season. Expectations for seventh-round picks are normally very low, with their main goal being just to make the team. By that measure, Croskey-Merritt had a strong rookie season last year, though it felt like he didn't capitalize enough on his opportunities. Brian Robinson Jr. being traded before Week 1 and Austin Ekeler suffering a season-ending injury left a three-man committee with JCM, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols — which limited everyone's fantasy ceiling. However, Rodriguez only topped 70 scrimmage yards twice and never went over 85 yards in a single game. McNichols was a distant third in terms of touches and production. Meanwhile, Croskey-Merritt went over 70 scrimmage yards four times, including twice during the final month. Fantasy managers will remember his contributions well, since he was the RB10 in fppg during the fantasy playoffs, topping 95 yards on two occasions and scoring four touchdowns over that stretch. He'll carry that momentum over to this season as he tries to win the lead back job over pass-catching specialist Rachaad White and sixth-round power back Kaytron Allen. The coaching staff has made it clear that JCM needs to improve his contributions in the passing game if he's going to consistently earn a larger role in the offense. While this could be a frustrating fantasy backfield to decipher week-to-week, there's value to be had with all three Commanders' RBs being chosen in the 10th round or later. Croskey-Merritt is the one I'm drafting most frequently, since he has the greatest potential to emerge as a difference-maker from this group after flashing that high-end production i
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Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) missed the entire 2025 season due to a re-torn ACL. While his injury history presents risk, he is on track to return for 2026 and could potentially step into an RB2 role behind Chuba Hubbard, especially with Rico Dowdle no longer on the team. Brooks is considered a buy-low candidate in dynasty formats
The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up their second week of OTAs on Friday, and their rookie class continues to impress. Wide receiver Germie Bernard has been a hot topic of conversation with how strong he’s looked over the first two weeks of team activities, and now it’s quarterback Drew Allar’s turn. The third-round pick out of Penn State made strides in the second week of organized team activities, and Noah Strackbein of All Steelers named the young signal-caller as one of his winners of the week. “The rookie quarterback took a noticable step forward in terms of his comfort level working individual drills and with his new wide receiver core,” Strackbein writes . “That included two very nice passes where he put the ball right on the money to DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard, with coverage, about 30 yards deep. There’s a long way to go before Allar is a franchise quarterback, but from Week 1 to Week 2, he got notably better. That’s quick progress, and if the Mike McCarthy quarterback school is actually going to work, Allar is the perfect project to make it work on.” All the Steelers can hope for is that Allar continues to take noticeable strides in his development. Should he do that, he could put himself in a good position in a year’s time in a potential quarterback battle to be the Week 1 starter in 2027. The Steelers will hold mandatory minicamp next week, and will have one more set of OTAs from June 8-12. They’ll then have a six-week break before reporting to Latrobe for training camp on July 28. Let us know what you think in the comments . Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more! Another former Steelers WR attempting NFL comeback Micah Parsons recruiting Mike Tomlin to Packers Steelers RB Rico Dowdle excited for ‘thunder and lightning’ duo with Jaylen Warren Steelers LB Patrick Queen responds to trade rumors, contract talk Ben Roethlisberger has serious doubts about Drew Allar
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
