Jonathon Brooks Fantasy Stats

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen) was seen getting some work in during Tuesday's unofficial practice, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers are still deciding whether they will open Brooks' 21-day practice window this week to return from Injured Reserve, but it is a good sign that he was out on the practice field on Wednesday. If the 23-year-old's practice window is opened this week and he returns to practice, it will not guarantee his return to the active game-day roster on Sunday for a Week 9 matchup against the Denver Broncos, though. Brooks, who has already torn his ACL twice while with the Panthers, has not played since Week 2 after having core-muscle surgery, and he will most likely be eased back into Carolina's backfield as the RB2 behind starter Chuba Hubbard whenever he is officially activated from IR. The former second-rounder from Texas has a lengthy injury history but is still a worthwhile RB handcuff in fantasy football in 2026, especially since he is nearing a return. Brooks is currently rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues and is a worthwhile stash for RB depth in 12-team leagues.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team could "potentially" open the 21-day practice window for running back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen) to return from Injured Reserve this week, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. However, Canales said that Brooks still has some things he needs to clear recovery-wise. The 23-year-old former second-rounder from Texas has not played since undergoing core-muscle surgery on Sept. 23, but he is now technically eligible to come off IR to give Carolina more backfield depth. Brooks carried a lot of buzz in the summer during training camp and the preseason after recovering from a second torn ACL in his knee, but the injury bug bit him again after he played in just two games to begin the 2026 season. In those two games, Brooks had only nine carries for 30 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and added two catches for 43 yards in the passing game. When he returns, he should operate as the clear backup to Chuba Hubbard, who has been outstanding for Carolina through eight weeks. Despite missing four games, Brooks is rostered in 38% of Yahoo leagues as an RB handcuff.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen) has not played since Week 2, but he'll hopefully get back on the field soon. Recently, head coach Dave Canales said Brooks was trending in the right direction. The 23-year-old remains on the Injured Reserve right now, so his chances of playing in Week 8 are slim. It wouldn't be shocking to see Brooks back within the next few games, given the fact that he is making progress. He figures to eat into Chuba Hubbard's playing time once Brooks is cleared to play. Fantasy managers who can afford to be patient should consider stashing Brooks, with his return hopefully coming soon.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Friday that running back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen), who is on Injured Reserve, is "trending in the right direction," according to Alex Zietlow of The Charlotte Observer. Brooks was seen jogging during the team's practice on Thursday and is making progress after having core-muscle surgery early in the 2026 season. Continued injury issues for Brooks have made Chuba Hubbard one of the biggest fantasy football values so far this year. Brooks is a stash candidate off the waiver wire for fantasy managers who need more depth at the position, but he probably will not be a realistic candidate to come off IR to play in the Week 8 contest on Thursday against the Green Bay Packers. The 23-year-old former second-rounder from Texas has played in just five of a possible 38 regular-season games since he entered the league. In two games this year before his core-muscle injury, Brooks handled nine carries for only 30 yards and caught two of his three targets for 43 yards through the air. Right now, he is being stashed in 41% of Yahoo leagues.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) was spotted jogging at Thursday's practice, according to Sheena Quick, an encouraging development in his recovery from a core-muscle injury. Brooks aggravated a lingering groin issue during Carolina's Week 2 victory over Atlanta and underwent surgery after being placed on injured reserve September 23. Head coach Dave Canales initially estimated a six-to-eight-week recovery period, so Thursday's activity shouldn't be confused with a return to regular practice. The 23-year-old has appeared in just five NFL games since being selected in the second round of the 2024 draft, having previously endured two ACL tears. He managed nine carries for 30 yards and two receptions for 43 yards in two appearances this season before getting hurt. Chuba Hubbard continues to lead Carolina's backfield, while AJ Dillon (ankle) is dealing with an injury of his own. Trevor Etienne (ankle) also had his practice window opened earlier this week. Brooks remains without a confirmed return date, and his immediate redraft value is limited until there's more substantial progress in his recovery.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that the timeline for running back Jonathon Brooks (abdomen, groin) to return after undergoing core-muscle surgery is six to eight weeks, per Steve Reed of The Associated Press. Per Reed, Canales said that the return timeline with or without the surgery "would have been about the same," prompting the team to take the surgical route. It's the latest in a long line of injury setbacks for Brooks, who has appeared in just five games since Carolina selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Across two games in 2026 before getting injured, the 23-year-old recorded nine carries for 30 yards and two catches for 43 yards on three targets. With Brooks sidelined, Panthers RB1 Chuba Hubbard could take on an even larger share of the team's backfield work. Carolina also hosted veteran running back Austin Ekeler for a workout on Wednesday, but no deal between the two parties has been announced yet.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (core) is set to undergo core muscle surgery, which will place him on the injured reserve. Per Rapoport, the young running back is expected to miss at least six weeks, but should be able to contribute down the stretch. This is a tough blow for Brooks, who has dealt with many serious injuries throughout his career. He joined the Panthers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft but has appeared in only five regular-season games in his career, two of them being this season. In Week 1, Brooks took only four carries but made a splash in the receiving game, catching one pass for 48 yards. In Week 2, Brooks took only five carries before exiting early. With Brooks now in line to miss nearly half of the season, Chuba Hubbard should operate as the clear workhorse and carry weekly RB2 upside given his projected workload.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) is now considered week-to-week while he gets second opinions on his groin injury, a source told Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Brooks first injured his groin in training camp and then tweaked it again in the Week 2 win over the division-rival Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. The 23-year-old had four carries for 14 yards and caught one of his two targets for a 48-yard pickup in the Week 1 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and carried the ball five times for 16 yards with one catch for a loss of five yards in Week 2 before being pulled. The former second-rounder from Texas has already suffered two torn ACLs in his short time in the NFL, and he just has not been able to stay healthy. If he is forced to miss any time, starting in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Chuba Hubbard will become a must-start in fantasy football. AJ Dillon would likely become the RB2 for Carolina behind Hubbard. Fantasy managers who took Brooks as a sleeper to eventually take over the Panthers' backfield in 2026 have to be disappointed with the start he has had through two games.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) is undergoing further testing Monday, according to Nick Carboni. Brooks aggravated the same groin injury that sidelined him late in training camp during Sunday's 34-3 win over Atlanta. Head coach Dave Canales called him day-to-day after the game and said the team would have more information as the week went on. Brooks finished with five carries for 16 yards and one catch for minus-five yards before leaving in the fourth quarter. Carolina has not given a timetable for his return, so his status for Sunday's Week 3 game at Cleveland remains up in the air.

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (groin) is considered day-to-day per head coach Dave Canales, The Athletic's Joe Person reported via the X platform on Sunday. Brooks, who sustained the injury during training camp, had five carries for 16 yards before signaling for a trainer and exiting Sunday's 34-3 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Fellow back Chuba Hubbard did the heavy lifting for Carolina's ground attack in the victory, logging 12 carries for 53 yards. Brooks had just four carries for 14 yards in Week 1 and has yet to score a touchdown in 2026.