Panthers' rookie Jonathon Brooks suffers another ACL tear; 2025 could be in jeopardy


CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks re-injured the ACL in his right knee Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, ending his season and putting the 2025 season in jeopardy, as well.

Brooks, a second-round pick from Texas who was the first running back drafted this year, was hurt on a non-contact play in the first quarter at Philadelphia, when he went down on his own for a 3-yard loss. Panthers coach Dave Canales said that an MRI on Monday showed Brooks had re-torn the ligament and will require a second surgery 14 months after his initial procedure. He said there was no other additional injuries to his right knee.

“My heart is with him,” Canales said.

The Panthers activated Brooks in November before the team’s trip to Munich. But the team chose to hold him out against the New York Giants because of concerns over the condition of the grass surface at Allianz Arena.

Brooks made his debut with two carries against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 before getting nine touches the following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including five in a row when the Panthers were in scoring position.

The Panthers envisioned a backfield tandem featuring the complementary running styles of Chuba Hubbard and Brooks, who is more of a shifty, change-of-pace back than the downhill-running Hubbard.

Now the 21-year-old Brooks will prepare for another surgery, followed by rehab process that figures to stretch deep into the 2025 season. It’s likely Brooks will not play again until 2026.

Should Panthers have held Brooks out all season?

It’s easy to question that now, but the Panthers’ coaching and medical staff took a cautious approach with Brooks. Adrian Peterson and other NFL players have come back as soon as eight months after ACL surgery, while Brooks returned a year after his. Brooks and those around him were on board with playing this season. Another question is whether the Panthers were wrong to draft a running back coming off a major surgery, given that Hubbard was already on the roster. There are plenty of examples of players who had long, productive careers after ACL surgeries — from Peterson, who ran for 2,000 yards and was the 2012 MVP in his first season back, to Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who played nine more seasons and went to three Pro Bowls after tearing his ACL a third time. Brooks was among the nation’s leading rushers at the time of his injury against TCU on Nov. 11, 2023.

How do the Panthers replace Brooks?

Brooks was not the only Panthers’ running back to get hurt Sunday. Raheem Blackshear was taken to a Philadelphia hospital to be evaluated for a chest injury before returning to Charlotte with the team. Veteran Miles Sanders is on injured reserve with an ankle injury and not eligible to return until a Dec. 22 home game against the Arizona Cardinals. The only other healthy running backs are Mike Boone and Emani Bailey on the practice squad. Beyond this season, the Panthers now need a plan for 2025. Before Brooks’ injury, most expected the Panthers to cut ties with Sanders, who fell out of favor after Frank Reich and Duce Staley were fired. The Panthers can save $5.2 million against the salary cap (with $2.95 million in dead money) by releasing Sanders this offseason.

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(Photo: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)





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