Jonathon Brooks injury update: Panthers RB to miss 2025 season amid ACL recovery

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Carolina Panthers placed running back Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list. He will not play in the 2025 season.

Brooks tore his ACL in the Panthers’ Week 14 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 8. He made three total appearances for the Panthers last season, recording nine carries for 22 yards.

Brooks’ injury last season wasn’t the first setback he’s faced on the gridiron. He began his rookie season on the injured reserve after tearing his ACL in his final season at Texas on Nov. 11, 2023.

Brooks spent three seasons at Texas, where he amassed 22 appearances and eight starts. In his redshirt sophomore season, Brooks racked up 187 carries for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

He also hauled in 25 receptions for 286 yards and a TD that season. For his efforts, Brooks was named an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection by the league’s coaches and media. He was also a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, which is annually given to the best running back in college football.

The Panthers selected Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with No. 44 overall pick. He is on a four-year contract with the team worth $8,176,918. Although Brooks was coming into the NFL with a torn ACL, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein spoke highly of the RB’s potential in the pre-draft process.

“The comparison of Brooks to former Longhorn Jamaal Charles might feel lazy to some, but he has similar size and traits as a runner,” Zierlein wrote. “… He’s agile and smooth working from cut to cut and is likely to improve his feel for reading blocks and setting up defenders as he gains experience. Brooks has the wiggle and know-how to create yardage in tight quarters or in space but is efficient finishing runs when it’s time.

“He has good burst but can be a little hesitant to punch the gas between the tackles until he sees clear points of entry, and he isn’t a physical run finisher. Brooks is a runner on an upward trajectory. He’s a good pass catcher with three-down potential who should fit nicely as an early starter for zone-heavy teams.”

The Panthers posted a 5-12 record last season, but showed signs of life down the stretch, winning two of their final three games. Carolina will look to build on its momentum this season.