Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.
Jonathon Brooks Undergoes ACL Surgery, Expected To Miss Entire 2025 Season
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) underwent a successful second ACL surgery last week, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The operation was led by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who is widely regarded as one of the country's top sports medicine specialists. Brooks missed the first half of his rookie season due to an ACL injury, so it was crushing to see him suffer another ACL tear just a few games into his NFL career. This latest tear is expected to sideline Brooks for the entire 2025 season, meaning he won't be fully healthy until the 2026 campaign. The Panthers are fortunate that Chuba Hubbard played so well during the 2024 season and is on track to remain their starting running back in 2025. Hubbard ranks as a high-end fantasy RB2 next year, but Brooks' eventual return in 2026 could add a wrinkle to the backfield dynamic.
Jonathon Brooks Officially Placed On Injured Reserve
The Carolina Panthers officially placed rookie second-round running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) on season-ending Injured Reserve on Tuesday after he sustained another torn right ACL in the Week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Brooks tore the same ACL while playing at Texas in college last fall, which is why he didn't make his NFL debut until Week 11. The 21-year-old will almost certainly open the 2025 campaign on IR yet again and probably won't make his season debut late in the year, similar to what transpired this year. It's a devastating blow for the youngster and for those with shares in dynasty/keeper leagues, as Brooks may never be the explosive back in the NFL that he was in college. In three games with Carolina before tearing his ACL again, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and three catches for 23 yards as the distant No. 2 back behind starter Chuba Hubbard.
According to head coach Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss the remainder of the season after re-tearing his right knee in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported the news. Wow. What an unfortunate end to a very short rookie season. Brooks will now again begin the long road to recovery. Oddly enough, he tore his ACL in college around the same time last year, so maybe we can expect him to follow the same schedule as he did this season. It's a massive disappointment after it appeared he was finally finding his legs in the NFL. For now, teammate Chuba Hubbard should regain his massive touch load from the beginning of 2024 and continue to be a strong weekly play.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) has pain in his knee and will undergo additional testing in order for medical personnel to determine the extent of his injury, head coach Dave Canales told the media after Sunday's Week 14 loss. Brooks suffered a non-contact injury during the first half and was quickly ruled out. He finished with just one carry for a loss of three yards. It's a concerning sign for the rookie, especially given his injury history. Brooks tore his ACL during his final season at the University of Texas, and that injury delayed his NFL debut until three weeks ago. Brooks, the Panthers, and fantasy managers will brace themselves for his diagnosis and hope that he's not headed for yet another lengthy absence. In the meantime, Chuba Hubbard will operate as the Panthers' primary running back.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) isn't expected to return to Sunday's game against the Eagles. The rookie wasn't involved long, amassing only one carry for negative yardage before going down with a right knee injury. He spent most of the year working his way back from a right knee injury suffered at the collegiate level. However, things don't look promising for Brooks, considering he went down in Week 14 with a non-contact injury. Fantasy managers are obviously hoping for the best. But with Miles Sanders (ankle) on the IR and Raheem Blackshear (chest) questionable to return, Chuba Hubbard could be busy for the rest of the contest.
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks saw more snaps and opportunities in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Panthers continue to ease him into their game plans. The Texas product carried the ball six times for 18 yards but did more damage in the receiving game, garnering three receptions for 23 yards. While it was starting to look doubtful that Brooks would bring any fantasy relevance this year, it now seems possible that he can make an impact in the waning weeks of the season. With Carolina taking on a tough Philadelphia defense next week, Brooks' usage compared to Chuba Hubbard will be something to watch.
Jonathon Brooks A Player To Monitor In Week 13 Against Tampa Bay
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks debuted last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. It was an uneventful day for Brooks, who missed most of the year recovering from an ACL tear he suffered in college. He carried the ball twice for seven yards and played in just eight percent of the team's snaps. Brooks is clearly behind Chuba Hubbard in Carolina's depth chart and will look to earn more touches in Sunday's matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many a managers have stashed Brooks on their roster in hopes of him providing a playoff spark. While he certainly won't be a starter in Week 13, monitoring his usage will be paramount in deciding his immediate future on fantasy rosters.
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks debuted in his first game but wasn't very involved in the 30-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The rookie saw eight percent of the offensive snaps and registered two carries for seven yards with no work in the passing game. Due to a big first-half deficit, the Panthers were forced to abandon the run and the backfield as a whole only produced 85 total yards. Brooks will likely see some added snaps moving forward, but fantasy managers will want to be cautious with the split between him and Chuba Hubbard.
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is officially active on Sunday to make his NFL debut against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. The second-round pick out of Texas is finally fully recovered from a torn ACL he suffered last year in college and will now serve as the No. 2 behind starter Chuba Hubbard. While the 21-year-old won't be on a snap count in his first game in the NFL, he should be the clear backup on Sunday and moving forward, making him hard to trust for starting purposes in fantasy. The good news is his role should grow on a weekly basis, and Miles Sanders (ankle) is now on Injured Reserve, which means he'll miss at least the next four games. By season's end, it's possible Brooks could be on the RB3/flex radar in the right matchup.
Jonathon Brooks
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Panthers
