Jonathon Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, as the Carolina Panthers took him with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round.
It’s possible Brooks would have been picked even earlier if he was healthy, but an injury he suffered in college sidelined him throughout the pre-draft process. Now, that same injury has derailed a significant chunk of his rookie season. What is the latest on Brooks’ health, and when will the rookie running back make his NFL debut?
What Is Jonathon Brooks’ Injury?
On Nov. 11, 2023, Brooks suffered a torn ACL in Texas’ game against TCU. Shortly after, Brooks had surgery to repair his ACL, ending his season and his collegiate career.
“We’re heartbroken for Jonathon,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement at the time. “He was having a fantastic season and leaves a void that needs to be filled. … I know he’ll work extremely hard in his recovery, get back to full speed as soon as he can, and we will be there by his side supporting him through all of that.”
Before the injury, Brooks was extremely productive for the Longhorns in 2023, rushing for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games while also catching 25 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown.
Here's 3 minutes of Jonathon Brooks being an absolute beast for your timeline today pic.twitter.com/bue2kdMP1p
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) July 25, 2023
Brooks had big shoes to fill at Texas, replacing star running back Bijan Robinson, who was drafted No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, Brooks picked up right where Robinson left off and solidified himself as arguably the best running back in the nation.
Since Brooks tore his ACL in November, many wondered how the injury would impact his draft stock. He wouldn’t be able to participate in drills at the NFL Combine or work out for teams. However, he was still the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
When Will Brooks Return From Injury?
After selecting Brooks, Panthers general manager and president of football operations Dan Morgan told reporters that he expected Brooks to be ready for training camp, but the 21-year-old never came close to hitting that timeline.
Since the Panthers placed Brooks on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list to start the season, he was required to miss the first four games. However, he has ultimately been sidelined even longer. It’s now Week 9, and he has yet to make his NFL debut.
INJURY TRACKER: Stay Up-To-Date on the Latest NFL Injuries
On Oct. 16, the Panthers designated Brooks to return from the NFI list, opening his three-week practice window. He has been a limited participant in practice over the last week and a half. Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters that the goal for last week was for Brooks to practice three days in a row, and he did that.
However, when asked whether Brooks not playing this season is a possibility, Canales responded: “It could be. But we’re just going to take it week by week right now.”
#Panthers HC Dave Canales on whether it’s possible that Jonathon Brooks doesn’t play this year:
“It could be.” pic.twitter.com/fabA2qR0Wr
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) October 26, 2024
This is obviously an alarming quote, and Canales also stressed that he wants to make sure Brooks feels confident and ready to go before putting him out there.
If Brooks isn’t activated to the Panthers’ active roster by Nov. 5, he’ll be ruled out for the remainder of the season due to NFI rules.
The Panthers are clearly easing the rookie back slowly, which makes sense given the draft capital they spent on him and their current NFC-worst 1-7 record.
How Has Brooks’ Absence Impacted the Panthers?
With Brooks sidelined, the Panthers have been starting Chuba Hubbard (with Miles Sanders mixing in occasionally as well).
Hubbard has been a bright spot for the Panthers and one of the pleasant surprises of the first half of the 2024 NFL season.
Through eight games, Hubbard has turned 118 carries into 593 rushing yards and three touchdowns while also contributing 24 catches for 108 yards and a touchdown through the air.
The Panthers could have a really nice one-two punch at running back once Brooks is healthy enough to play.
From a fantasy football standpoint, Hubbard has been a steal for anyone who drafted or added him. However, his success has been frustrating for managers who drafted Brooks, as the hope was that the rookie would step into a workhorse role once he got healthy. Now, it certainly seems that Brooks and Hubbard will split the touches pretty evenly.
The one thing to keep in mind is that Hubbard is in the final year of his rookie contract, so Carolina may give Brooks more touches down the stretch to see what he can do with a big workload. They have to decide on Hubbard this offseason, so knowing what Brooks is capable of is important.
Also, given the team’s struggles, Canales and his staff could shift their focus to developing the young guys and getting them as many reps as possible over the second half of the season.
Until Brooks is active and taking significant touches away from Hubbard, you’re starting Hubbard in your fantasy lineup wherever you have him.
