Jonathon Brooks Injury News & Updates

The Panthers are placing Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, ruling him out for the entire 2025 season.

Players can return from the PUP list when placed on it at the start of training camp or before Week 1, but not if they get the designation this early in the offseason. Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee each of the past two years, bringing his college career to an early conclusion and then limiting his rookie season to three games. The Panthers took him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 46th overall, but they'll now move forward with Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle and Trevor Etienne as the main candidates to take carries in 2025.

Carolina placed Brooks (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Brooks' move to IR was fully expected after Panthers head coach Dave Canales confirmed Monday that the 2024 second-round pick suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles. The setback is a devastating one for the 21-year-old running back, who tore the ligament in the same knee last November during his final collegiate season at Texas. Brooks didn't make his NFL debut until a little over a year after suffering the first ACL tear, so he'll almost certainly open the 2025 season on IR and may not be ready for game action until late in the campaign. He appeared in just three games for Carolina as a rookie, carrying nine times for 22 yards and recorded three receptions for 23 yards on three targets over his 22 snaps on offense.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced Monday that Brooks suffered another tear of his right ACL during Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Brooks will undergo surgery to address his ACL re-injury, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. The rookie second-round pick had to be carted off the field in the second quarter of Sunday's loss after sustaining a non-contact injury. The development is brutal for Brooks, who made his NFL debut and return from IR just three games ago, ultimately playing just 22 offensive snaps in his rookie campaign. Brooks will now face the task of rehabbing from his second ACL tear in 13 months, with both injuries having occurred in the same knee. With Raheem Blackshear (chest) dealing with an injury of his own, Chuba Hubbard remains in line for a clear workhorse role out of the backfield heading into a Week 15 matchup against the Cowboys.

Coach Dave Canales said after Sunday's 22-16 loss at Philadelphia that Brooks will undergo further testing on his right knee to determine the extent of his injury, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Brooks remained on the turf after getting injured in the second quarter and needed a cart to get to the locker room. Per Canales, Brooks has pain in his right knee, but no diagnosis has yet come to light. Fellow RB Raheem Blackshear suffered a chest injury Sunday, leaving Chuba Hubbard as the only healthy player at the position on the Panthers' active roster.

Brooks was forced out of Sunday's game against the Eagles with a knee injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Prior to being carted off the field, Brooks carried once for minus-3 yards. With Raheem Blackshear having sustained a chest injury during the contest, Chuba Hubbard remains available to handle Carolina's backfield duties versus Philadelphia.

Brooks rushed the ball six times for 18 yards in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win against the Buccaneers. He added three receptions on three targets for 23 yards.

Brooks wasn't all that impressive with his rushing opportunity, but he saw his carry total jump from two to six in his second pro game. He was also much more effective as a receiver, highlighted by a shifty 18-yard catch and run late in the first quarter. While Brooks is unlikely to overtake Chuba Hubbard to lead the Carolina backfield, it appears clear that he will continue to carve out a role moving forward.

Brooks rushed twice for seven yards in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Chiefs.

The 2024 second-round pick from Texas made his NFL debut in Sunday's loss but didn't see much offensive work, playing behind the NFL's fifth-leading rusher, Chuba Hubbard. Brooks' longest rush was four yards in the fourth quarter, and he will likely continue to see limited offensive snaps given Hubbard's current level of production. However, the rookie running back's role could expand as he becomes more familiar with Carolina's offense over the course of the season. Expect Brooks to serve as the Panthers' No. 2 running back in the Week 13 matchup against the Buccaneers.

Brooks (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Brooks had been listed as questionable heading into the weekend, but his availability for Sunday was never in any peril after head coach Dave Canales said Friday that he running back was ready to make his NFL debut. A 2024 second-round pick out of Texas, Brooks missed the Panthers' first 10 games of the season while completing his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last November. He had been activated from the non-football injury list Nov. 6 and has been a full participant in practices for weeks, so Brooks should be capable of handling the top backup role behind starting running back Chuba Hubbard. Before landing on injured reserve this week, Miles Sanders (ankle) had been serving as Carolina's No. 2 option in the backfield and averaged 5.9 touches per contest, but given the draft capital invested in him, Brooks could match or surpass that level of usage, especially if the Panthers want to lighten Hubbard's workload a bit.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said Friday that Brooks (knee) "absolutely" will play Sunday against the Chiefs despite technically being listed as questionable on the final injury report, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Canales said Brooks wouldn't be on a "pitch count" in the event of an injury to Chuba Hubbard, who is still viewed as "the starting point" of Carolina's backfield, per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340. It remains to be seen if Brooks will have a larger role than what's typically handled by Miles Sanders, who will be inactive for the first time this season due to an ankle injury. Hubbard's impressive season means the Panthers don't have any incentive to put Brooks in a large role for his first football game since suffering an ACL tear at Texas last November.

Brooks (knee) practiced fully Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Brooks was a full practice participant during the entirety of preparations prior to the Panthers' last game Sunday, Nov. 10 against the Giants in Munich, Germany, but Carolina ultimately included him among its inactives for Week 10. Following the team's Week 11 bye, he remains uncapped on the practice field, and coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of the Associated Press on Wednesday that he has "high hopes" for Brooks making his pro debut Sunday against the Chiefs. Brooks likely will take a back seat to Chuba Hubard in his initial NFL forays, but the rookie second-round pick should have some sort of regular role, considering the draft capital invested in him.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that he "fully expects" Brooks (knee) to play Sunday against the Chiefs, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Brooks has been out all season while recovering from the torn ACL that he suffered last November during his final collegiate campaign at Texas, but he was a full participant in practices in Weeks 9 and 10 before Carolina went on bye for Week 11. Assuming he experiences no setbacks with his surgically repaired right knee during Week 12 prep, Brooks should be ready to handle a complementary role behind starter Chuba Hubbard. With Hubbard still expected to see the lion's share of the snaps and touches out of the backfield moving forward after inking a four-year, $33.2 million extension earlier this month, Brooks will likely struggle to earn enough volume to make for an appealing option in fantasy lineups.

Brooks (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Giants in Munich, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

The Panthers brought Brooks back from the reserve/non-football injury list Wednesday, but the decision to activate him may have had more to do with the running back's 21-day evaluation window coming to a close rather than him being deemed ready for game action. Brooks proceeded to turn in a trio of full practices for the second week in a row and had been listed as questionable heading into Sunday, but before turning him loose for his NFL debut, the Panthers will give the rookie running back more time to rebuild strength in his knee from the torn ACL he suffered Nov. 12 of last year during his final collegiate season at Texas. After the Germany game, the Panthers are on bye Week 11, so assuming Brooks experiences no setbacks during Week 12 practices, he should suit up Nov. 24 against the Chiefs. Brooks is likely to begin his career in a complementary role in the backfield behind Chuba Hubbard, whom Carolina signed to a four-year extension earlier this week.

Brooks (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, with coach Dave Canales suggesting Friday that the running back's active status will be a difficult decision, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Canales said Brooks, OLB DJ Wonnum (quad) and S Jordan Fuller (hamstring) are "making it hard on us" in reference to their Week 10 availability. The other two remain on injury lists, whereas Brooks was activated from injured reserve Wednesday to avoid the end of his 21-day practice window (and reverting to IR for the rest of the season). The rookie was a full practice participant all of last week and this week, which at least suggests he's likely to play after a Week 11 bye, if not this Sunday in Munich. The Panthers will release their inactive list about 90 minutes before the 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff.

Coach Dave Canales said Brooks (knee) will be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list Wednesday, but he isn't certain whether or not the running back will play Sunday against the Giants in Munich, Germany, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Stretching back to last week, Brooks now has been listed as a full participant on four consecutive injury reports, but the Panthers continue to take a cautious approach with the rookie second-round pick as he gets back to full health from the torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee last Nov. 12. If Brooks doesn't make his pro debut Sunday, Chuba Hubbard will lead Carolina's backfield, while the team uses their Week 11 bye to get the former ready for its next game Sunday, Nov. 24 versus the Chiefs.

Brooks (knee) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Brooks was a full practice participant throughout last week and ultimately held out of a 23-22 win over the Saints, with coach Dave Canales suggesting the rookie likely would make his NFL debut this coming Sunday against the Giants in Munich, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Regardless of how that plays out, the Panthers will need to move Brooks from the non-football injury list to the active roster this week unless they want to hold him out for the entire season.

Brooks (knee) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Saints, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Carolina has been taking an extra cautious route with the later stages of Brooks' recovery from the ACL tear that he sustained in his right knee last Nov. 12. His practice regimen during Week 7 prep was LP-DNP-LP, followed by three consecutive capped sessions last week and a trio of full practices this week. Even so, Brooks' pro debut will be delayed to next Sunday, Nov. 10 against the Giants. In the meantime, the Panthers will continue to roll with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders out of the backfield.

The Panthers list Brooks (knee) as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, but head coach Dave Canales said that the running back is unlikely to be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list prior to the Week 9 contest, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Brooks concluded his third week of practice with the Panthers on Friday after he had his 21-day evaluation window opened back on Oct. 16. He turned in a trio of full practices from Wednesday through Friday and seemingly came out of those workouts without any setbacks to his surgically repaired right knee, but the Panthers are leaning toward giving the rookie running back more recovery time before clearing him for his NFL debut. Per Newton, Canales believes that Brooks will be ready to play Week 10 against the Giants in Munich, but Carolina will first need to add the 21-year-old to its 53-man roster to make that a reality. If activated next week, Brooks is likely to be eased into action in a complementary role to Chuba Hubbard, who has excelled as Carolina's lead back this season.

Brooks (knee) practiced fully Thursday.

Brooks has been slowly but surely increasing his practice reps the past few weeks, logging non-consecutive limited sessions two weeks ago, three straight capped sessions last week and now back-to-back full practices this week. The Panthers have until next Wednesday to activate him from the reserve/non-football injury list, but considering his activity level so far this week, he may be on the brink of his pro debut. Brooks' listing on Friday's injury report could be telling for his chances to play Sunday against the Saints.

Brooks (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

Brooks still remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, but it's encouraging to see him practicing in full after having been listed as 'limited' in the majority of his sessions of the last two weeks. Coach Dave Canales said Wednesday he's still undecided about whether Brooks will play Sunday versus the Saints, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press, a game that will again feature Bryce Young under center. Thus far the Panthers have opted for extra caution regarding Brooks' recovery, but with Diontae Johnson (rib) having been traded to Baltimore, the team has an increased need for playmakers on offense.

Brooks was downgraded to out and will not be activated ahead of the Week 8 contest against the Broncos.

Brooks has practiced in limited fashion over the majority of the past two weeks, but the Panthers are being ultra cautious with the rookie second-round pick. Chuba Hubbard will once again get the majority of the work out of the backfield against, but the offense may struggle with Bryce Young back under center due to the injury to Andy Dalton (thumb).

Brooks (knee) is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Brooks, who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list, has been limited in five of six session since having his 21-day practice window opened, with his lone absence having come last Thursday. Still, the rookie second-round pick will likely have to wait at least one more week to make his NFL debut, leaving Chuba Hubbard to handle backfield duties versus Denver, with Miles Sanders working in the No. 2 role. Brooks' next chance to mix in will come Week 9 versus the Saints, if he's indeed officially ruled out to play on the road against the Broncos.

Brooks (knee) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Brooks sandwiched a pair of capped practices around a scheduled day off last Thursday, so his ability to put together back-to-back limited sessions to kick off this week is a good sign for the rookie second-round pick as he gets back into football shape. The Panthers may make a ruling on his status for a Week 8 matchup in Denver on Friday's injury report, but in order for him to be available for game action, the team will need to activate him from the reserve/non-football injury list.

Brooks (knee) is listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's injury report.

Brooks practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and Friday last week, sitting out both Thursday's practice and Carolina's blowout loss to Washington in Week 7. The rookie second-round pick's next chance to come off IR and make his NFL debut will come Sunday on the road against Denver, though the Panthers could also opt to continue taking a cautious approach to Brooks' recovery. His 21-day practice window officially opened Oct. 16.

Brooks (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Washington, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Brooks was never likely to play this week, having just returned to practice Wednesday after rehabbing from the ACL tear he suffered last November at Texas. He was a limited participant Wednesday and Friday, sandwiched around a rest day Thursday. The next chance to play will be Week 8 at Denver on Oct. 27.

Brooks (knee) didn't practice Thursday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Carolina opened Brooks' 21-day practice window Wednesday, and he eventually went down as a limited participant in his first official on-field work of the season. He's nearing the end of his recovery from the torn ACL that he suffered in his right knee last November, but it's perhaps not a surprise that the Panthers aren't pushing their luck with their second-round investment. The rookie running back thus doesn't seem to be a candidate for his NFL debut Sunday at Washington, something that may be confirmed as soon as the Panthers post their final Week 7 injury report Friday.

Brooks (knee), who remains on the reserve/non-football injury list after having had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday, is listed as a limited participant on Carolina's injury report.

Brooks, who is working his way back from a right ACL tear sustained during his final year at Texas, is practicing in full pads without a brace on his right knee, per David Newton of ESPN.com. Head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers will take things "week at a time" in terms of ramping up Brooks' activity, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports, so it sounds like the team may not be targeting Sunday's matchup against Washington for the rookie second-round pick's debut. Even once cleared to suit up, Brooks may realistically be slowly worked back into action alongside Chuba Hubbard, who has impressed early in the 2024 regular season, and backup Miles Sanders,

The Panthers announced Wednesday that Brooks (knee) has had his 21-day window to return to practice opened. Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Brooks' return to practice was announced by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, and Carolina now makes the move official. The rookie second-round pick began the 2024 season on the reserve/non-football injury list while recovering from a right ACL tear suffered during his final year at Texas, and he now kicks off a three week window wherein he can be monitored at practice without counting against the 53-man roster. Brooks can be fully activated at any point in that time. Once fully healthy, Brooks will work to push for a role alongside Chuba Hubbard atop the Panthers' backfield, though his first task will be to usurp backup Miles Sanders.

Coach Dave Canales said Monday that the Panthers plan to open the 21-day window for Brooks (knee) to return to practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Brooks has yet to make his NFL debut as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered during his final season at Texas, but that injury didn't preclude the Panthers from drafting him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Once the team officially designates Brooks to return from the non-football injury list, the Panthers will have 21 days from that point to put him on the active roster. Chuba Hubbard has thrived as the team's lead back early in the 2024 campaign, racking up 485 rushing yards through six games.

Brooks (knee) said Friday that he may return to practice next week, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Brooks also acknowledged that there's not much reason to hurry him back even though he's eager to play, as the Carolina backfield has been in good hands with Chuba Hubbard, whose success perhaps limits some of the prior optimism about Brooks might do once he plays. The rookie is talented enough to force a timeshare, or at least to push backup Miles Sanders out of the picture, and there's always some chance an injury to Hubbard creates a better opportunity. Brooks is 11 months removed from suffering an ACL tear -- an injury that didn't prevent him from being the first RB selected (46th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Monday that the team won't designate Brooks (knee) to return to practice this week, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Brooks started the regular season on the non-football injury list, which makes Week 5 his earliest possible return date, but Carolina won't yet designate the rookie second-round pick to resume practicing. Per Sheena Quick of Fox Sports Radio 1340, Canales said Brooks is in the "final stages" of his recovery from a right ACL tear sustained in his final collegiate season at Texas, and which prevented him from taking part in the Panthers' offseason program. Once designated to return, a 21-day practice window will open for Brooks, and with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders both currently running well, the Panthers have little need to hurry the rookie along.

Brooks (knee) is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in November and is approaching a return to action, per head coach Dave Canales, Anthony Rizzuti of USA Today Panthers Wire reports.

Brooks is on the non-football injury list, so the earliest he could make his NFL debut is Week 5 against the Bears. The Panthers would have to make an official move activating Brooks before he's eligible to play. Carolina's second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft tore his ACL while playing college football for Texas in November and didn't fully participate in the Panthers' offseason program, so Brooks may need some additional time to get up to speed. Once healthy enough to play, the rookie will join a Panthers backfield led by Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

Brooks will start the regular season on the non-football injury list and miss at least the first four games, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Brooks tore his ACL while playing football but is eligible for the NFI list because the injury occurred during a college game (last November) before the start of his NFL career. The Panthers made him the first running back taken in the 2024 NFL Draft anyway, 46th overall, undeterred by a lack of athletic testing or the possibility he'd miss games at the start of his pro career. Brooks has been on the NFI list all summer, leaving Chuba Hubbard temporarily unchallenged as Carolina's No. 1 running back. Miles Sanders could also get some carries early in the season, but Hubbard is a safe bet to make starts and lead the backfield in touches until Brooks returns at some point Week 5 or later.

Coach Dave Canales suggested Monday morning that the Panthers haven't decided if Brooks (knee) will start the regular season on the PUP list, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

The uncertainty suggests Brooks is unlikely to play Week 1 but could be ready before Week 5, as the PUP list would rule him out for the first four games. Canales said in early August that he expected the rookie to debut around Week 3 or 4, and it now sounds like the Panthers may take the decision down to the last day with the roster cutdown to 53 players looming Tuesday afternoon. Either way, Chuba Hubbard figures to be the starting RB for Week 1 at New Orleans.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said Saturday that Brooks (knee) won't play in the preseason and isn't expected to make his NFL debut until Week 3 or Week 4 of the regular season, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Brooks is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered last November, though the injury didn't stop the Panthers from picking him in the second round of April's NFL Draft. There was initially some optimism that the running back could be ready to practice at the start of training camp, but it's now apparent that he will be eased along cautiously and won't suit up for any preseason contests. It's possible that Brooks will begin the campaign on the PUP list, in which case he wouldn't be eligible to play until Week 5. With Brooks set to miss at least the first three games of the regular season, Chuba Hubbard's hold on the lead back role entering Week 1 may be cemented, though it's still possible that Miles Sanders could give him competition for those duties.

The Panthers placed Brooks (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Friday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Carolina saw rookies report for the start of training camp Friday, and despite early offseason reports that Brooks would be cleared for the start of camp, he will begin on the NFI list while continuing to recover from a torn right ACL suffered last November. Of course, Brooks can be activated at any time this summer, so he could still gain clearance to practice in at least a limited capacity without missing much of camp. The rookie second-round pick has just under three weeks to prepare for the Panthers' preseason opener against New England, and when ready to practice, he figures to compete for first-team reps with Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Rashaad Penny.

Brooks (knee) remains on track to be cleared for training camp, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Brooks said the ACL tear he suffered in November didn't come with any damage to other ligaments -- a factor that likely contributed to the Panthers' confidence making him the first RB selected in the 2024 NFL Draft (46th overall). He's begun running and plans to resume cutting soon, with the intention of participating at the start of training camp in late July, shortly after his 21st birthday. Brooks didn't play much at Texas until Bijan Robinson left for the NFL, but once he got his chance the results were impressive, with Brooks recording 1,139 rushing yards and 286 receiving yards in 11 games last season. In Carolina, he joins a backfield with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, though it isn't clear if the latter will have a role after his poor showing last season.