Jonathon Brooks Injury Update: Latest on Panthers RB’s misfortune in training camp

Jonathon Brooks was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. His impressive college football career with the Texas Longhorns made him one of the most desirable running backs in this year's class. Considering the Panthers are in desperate need of offensive weapons, the pairing seems to make sense.

While Brooks' high selection in the draft suggests that he could be in line to serve as the starting running back in Carolina, he will first need to overcome a significant injury. He tore his ACL last November, and while he is at training camp, his activity has been limited. Here's where the rookie currently stands with the 2024 NFL season approaching.

Jonathon Brooks injury update

Jonathon Brooks (image credit: Getty)

Jonathon Brooks is still recovering from his major knee injury that occurred during his final college football season with the Texas Longhorns. He tore his ACL in November, and while he has made significant progress, he has not yet been cleared to participate in full contact at training camp.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales recently provided an update on where his rookie running back currently stands, via Yahoo Sports. He explained that Brooks is not expected to play at all during the preseason and his status for Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season could be in jeopardy.

“The on-field progression, the types of cuts — linear running versus the change of direction versus going over bags and then progressively getting into team sessions — that whole thing has got to be right.

“Particularly when we transition to straight line to change of direction and the aggressive manner — that’s going to be really the limiting factor, or the determining factor, of how soon we can get him back or when we should be thinking, you know, conservatively.”

Canales insisted that the franchise anticipated a delay in his availability when they selected him in the draft, despite his knee injury.

When will Jonathon Brooks return?

The Panthers' rookie running back is projected to be one of the best overall players in his position from the 2024 NFL draft class. His debut may come later than the rest of the field, as he has reportedly been ruled out for the duration of the preseason. This puts his status in jeopardy for his Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Head coach Dave Canales also told the media that Brooks potentially opening the 2024 season on the PUP list is a realistic possibility. If the Panthers choose to take this route, the rookie would be required to miss at least the first four games of the upcoming season.

His status will likely be updated as Week 1 gets closer, but if he is unable to play, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders are expected to split the backfield workload.

Jonathon Brooks' injury history

While an ACL injury is one of the worst-case scenarios for any running back, the Carolina Panthers still took a shot on Brooks with the 46th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. This clearly demonstrates their faith in him being able to bounce back to full health and serve as an important piece in their rebuilding offense.

The good news is that Brooks has little history of injuries during his college football career. In fact, his knee injury last season was his only reported ailment that forced him to miss any games for the Texas Longhorns.

Brooks was little used in his first two years there, backing up superstars Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. He broke out for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, despite his campaign being shortened by the injury