Canales also said the team will elevate running back Tre Tyus from the practice squad for the game. AJ Dillon (ankle) was the only Panthers player ruled out on Friday's final injury report, and he did not practice all week.
What is confirmed: Etienne is back on the active roster, and Canales expects him to be available in Week 6. Dillon is out. What remains open is how much offensive work Etienne gets in his first game of 2026.
Etienne hurt his ankle in August and has not played this season. Carolina opened his 21-day practice window on Tuesday, coming out of the Week 5 bye, and he moved quickly. He was listed as questionable before the activation, and beat coverage had him taking punt-return reps at Friday's practice.
The backfield math is simple this week. Chuba Hubbard leads the group, and with Dillon sidelined, Etienne is the most natural backup, with Tyus as the extra body. As a rookie in 2025, Etienne was used mostly as a returner with limited snaps on offense, so his workload is still a projection. A role behind Hubbard plus return duties is the realistic floor.
For RSO owners, this ends the IR-slot holding period. If Etienne is stashed on your IR, he now needs an active roster spot before your league's lineup lock. In deeper leagues, he is a reasonable bench hold as Hubbard's handcuff, and Hubbard owners who do not have him should check waivers or make a small trade offer. Do not start him in Week 6 unless your roster is in a pinch. A first game back after a long ankle layoff is a poor time to bet on volume.
