Jonathon Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he has yet to make his pro debut as he recovers from a November ACL tear he suffered while in college. When can we expect to see the Carolina Panthers’ talented rookie running back on the field?
What Is Jonathon Brooks’ Injury?
On Nov. 11, 2023, Brooks tore his ACL in Texas’ game against TCU. Shortly after, Brooks had surgery, ending his season and his collegiate career.
Prior to his injury, Brooks ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games while adding 25 receptions for 286 yards and a touchdown through the air. We will surely get some NFL highlights from him eventually, but for now, here’s some of his best work from college for fans to salivate over.
Here's 3 minutes of Jonathon Brooks being an absolute beast for your timeline today pic.twitter.com/bue2kdMP1p
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) July 25, 2023
Even though the Panthers knew he wouldn’t be ready for the start of the season, they still made Brooks the first running back off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting him with the No. 46 overall pick.
When Will Brooks Return From Injury?
Even though Brooks’ injury happened playing football, since it didn’t happen playing professional football, he is technically on the NFI list (non-football injury). There is no meaningful difference between this and the PUP list (or even IR) at this point in the season.
Brooks was always going to miss the first four games of the season. However, the prevailing thought was he would make his debut sometime in October. Clearly, that did not happen.
Given that we are now heading into Week 10, he’s obviously well past the point at which he can legally return — it all comes down to his health.
ACL tears typically have a 9-12-month return-to-play timeline. Brooks won’t truly be back to his pre-injury self until next season. But in terms of getting back on the field, we are nearing the tail end of the typical recovery period.
The Panthers designated Brooks to return ahead of Week 7. He initially started with limited practices but has since graduated to full practices. Ahead of Week 9, he practiced in full all three days, but he was never expected to play (and he didn’t).
Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks is expected to make his NFL debut next week against the Giants in Germany. OLB D.J. Wonnon is expected to make his Carolina debut in that game, and WR Adam Thielen is expected to return from injury — unless he's a last-minute trade.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) November 3, 2024
Obviously, the game against the Giants has not happened yet, but this tweet sure looks to be proving accurate. This week, the Panthers faced the decision deadline on Brooks. Either activate him or shut him down until 2025.
The Panthers did, in fact, activate Brooks from IR.
Canales just said that the #Panthers are activating Brooks this week. That doesn’t necessarily mean he will make his NFL debut as they still want to be absolutely sure he’s ready/healthy, per Canales, but he’ll be on the 53-man roster. https://t.co/l9PwN9CtrR
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) November 6, 2024
That means the rookie will be on the roster this Sunday when the Panthers play the Giants in Germany. However, with the bye looming, there remains a chance Brooks is either inactive or only plays a handful of snaps, with the plan being to ramp up his usage after another two weeks of rest.
How Has Brooks’ Absence Impacted the Panthers?
The Panthers obviously drafted Brooks intending to make him their RB1 of the future. But while he’s been out, veteran Chuba Hubbard has been playing the best football of his career.
Hubbard is averaging 5.0 yards per carry and has played 68% of the snaps this season. He’s been mostly a bell cow, with Miles Sanders mixing in a bit more than expected on passing downs.
Even if Brooks does play this year, he’s not going to completely vanquish Hubbard. There will be a ramp-up period, and at best, he’ll flip a timeshare. Fantasy football managers absolutely should not start Brooks in Week 11. Those hoping for a potential league-winner down the stretch will have to settle for him maybe becoming a startable option beginning in Week 13 or 14.