Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks will see his season end after just three games and nine total carries after he tore the ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On a first-quarter run, Brooks planted his right foot in an attempt to cut to the outside and went down with a non-contact injury. He tried to limp off the field but had to be helped to the sideline.

A second-round draft pick out of Texas, Brooks was still recovering from ACL surgery on the same knee when the current season began. His previous ACL injury occurred in Texas’ victory over TCU in November 2023.

Brooks, 21, made his NFL debut in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs and gained 7 yards on two carries. He gained 18 yards on six carries in Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before he was injured on his lone carry Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks will make his debut this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Dave Canales said Monday.

Brooks, 21, was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At 46th overall, the former University of Texas standout was the first running back off the board.

Brooks has been rehabbing from surgery last November to repair a torn ACL. The Panthers activated him from the non-football injury list last month and moved him to the active roster on Nov. 6.

Brooks will join the backfield with Chuba Hubbard, who ranks fourth in the NFL with 818 rushing yards. Canales said Miles Sanders (ankle) is not expected to play when the Panthers (3-7) return from their bye week to host the Chiefs (9-1).

Bryce Young will remain the quarterback after winning consecutive starts before the bye against the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.

“This is about the continued progress, Bryce looking more and more confident,” Canales said Monday. “Just an aggressiveness to his play … and of course the end result, winning.

“He continues to do things to put us in a position to put him back out there and continue to build on that.”

Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns in 2023 before his knee injury.

–Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers are opening the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks, head coach Dave Canales said Monday.

Brooks, 21, was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, going to the Panthers in the second round with the 46th overall pick out of Texas.

He opened the season on the non-football injury list while still recovering from a torn ACL sustained last November.

“He’s checked all the boxes in terms of his getting back to being able to practice,” Canales said. “So, we’re hoping to open up that window (Monday).”

Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns last season before getting hurt in a Nov. 11 win at TCU.

The Panthers (1-5) have a three-game losing streak heading into their Week 7 game at Washington (4-2).

–Field Level Media