Panthers to Work Out Austin Ekeler as Brooks Absence Lingers

Panthers eye Ekeler to patch a thin backfield

Carolina is set to work out veteran running back Austin Ekeler as the team looks to fill out its backfield while Jonathon Brooks remains sidelined for an extended stretch, per reports. The move signals the Panthers know they have a hole to plug — you don't kick the tires on a veteran back if the room is already settled.

What it means for your survivor pick

A team shopping for a stopgap running back mid-week is a team still solving problems, not a team you want to lean on for a must-win survivor pick. Ekeler, if signed, would be a fresh face working to get up to speed — not an instant fix. Until Carolina's backfield stabilizes, treat the Panthers as a name to monitor rather than trust, and keep your safest survivor equity on rosters that aren't patching holes on the fly. If you're weighing this kind of situation as you build your slate, our survivor pool FAQ walks through how injuries and depth-chart shuffles should factor into your weekly call, and you can find more matchup breakdowns on the Outlast Pool blog.