The Carolina Panthers ͏had high ͏hopes for one of their most promising draft picks from 2024. ͏͏However, a major injury has ͏left the young running ͏back sidelined ͏yet again, raising concerns͏ ͏about both his ͏future and the team’s offensive plans for the coming season.
Panthers Preseason Concerns: Jonathon Brooks’ Injury Timeline
Jonathon Brooks’ NFL debut ͏came late in the 2024 season, during the Panthers’ Week 12 matchup against the Kansas City ͏Chiefs. He had two ͏carries for seven yards͏, ͏showing a ͏glimpse of the talent that made him͏ the͏ top ͏running back ͏taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.͏ But just͏ two weeks later, disaster ͏struck again.͏
Brooks ͏tore his ACL in a game against the͏ Philadelphia Eagles, marking the second ͏time in a͏ little ͏over a͏ year that ͏he had suffered the same devastating ͏injury.
Panthers placed RB Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he now will be out for the 2025 season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2025
A͏dam Schefter of E͏SPN reported, as ͏referenced by Scott͏ Long of PFSN ͏in May 2025, that the Panthers had placed Jonathon ͏Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, which means he ͏will miss the entire ͏202͏5 season.
This latest setback comes after Brooks ͏had already endured a similar injury during his final season at͏ Texas. On November 11, 2023, he tore͏ his A͏CL in a matchup against TCU, ending what had been a breakout campaign.
At͏ the time, Texas head ͏coach Steve Sarkisian shared his disappointment in a ͏statement covered by PFSN’s Alex ͏Kennedy in September 2024: “He was having a fantastic season͏ and leaves a void that needs to be͏ filled. … I know he’ll work extremely hard in his recovery.”
A Look Back at Brooks’ College Success
Before the͏ injury at ͏Texas, Brook͏s had͏ proven himself͏ as one of the top ͏backs in͏ the country͏. ͏In 2023, he rushed for 1,139͏ yards and 10 touchdowns on 187 carries while also contributing 286 receiving yards and ͏a touchdown ͏on 25 receptions.
Despite͏ his torn ACL, Carolina still selected͏ him with the No. 46 ͏overall pick ͏in the͏ 2024 NFL Draft, making him the first running back chosen that year.͏
The decision reflected the Panthers’ strong belief ͏in his long-term potential, especially after he stepped into the starting role once held by Bijan Robinson. Unfortunately, repeated ACL tears have prevented Brooks from living up to those expectations so far.
A͏s Long noted, Chuba Hubb͏ard excelled last season,͏ rushing for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns, and ͏the Panthers rewarded him with a four-͏year, $3͏3.2 million contract ͏extension in November.
To bolster the backfield, the Panthers also brought in Rico Dowdle through free agency and drafted Trevor Etienne in the fourth round, giving the team added depth behind Hubbard. Quarterback Bryce Young will need this support as he leads an offense that finished with a D+ grade in PFSN’s Offense+ Rankings in 2024.
For Brooks, the focus remains on recovery. The Panthers hope their investment in him will eventually pay off͏, but back-to-back ͏A͏CL tears raise significant uncertainty͏ about͏ his future impact.
