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Dave Canales, head coach of the Carolina Panthers said Wednesday New running back Jonathon Brooks is in the “final stages” of his recovery from a torn ACL.
Brooks, who injured his knee last November, will miss the first four games of the 2024 NFL season because the Panthers placed him on the non-football injury list to open the year.
Brooks could play no earlier than Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Canales says he may be healthy enough to play then or could get on the field in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Carolina used a second-round pick on the former Texas star, which is pretty high for a running back these days, especially when he’s coming back from a torn ACL. The investment shows the franchise’s long-term confidence in the value of a player who ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2023.
Many fantasy football managers share this assessment. Brooks is listed in 65 percent Yahoo Sports leagues and had a average draft position 37th among running backs.
Because of how the ACL has disrupted his offseason preparation, the Panthers could make it easier for the freshman to return to a high-usage role once he gets the green light to play. Chuba Hubbard has also been effective in their last two games, rushing for 178 yards on 31 carries.
Still, those who kept Brooks on their bench may soon start to see returns on their investment.
