The Carolina Panthers rookie, Jonathan Brooks, will make his NFL debut this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters that the second-round pick will play this week, reported by Adam Schefter. Brooks was a star running back at the University of Texas but tore his ACL during his final season with the Longhorns. This injury put him on the shelf when he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in April, but in week 12, he is finally expected to take the field.
Jonathan Brooks College Career
Jonathan Brooks was drafted in the second round with the 46th overall pick. Even with his torn ACL, Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. ACL injuries have broken the best running backs in the past. Even with advances in medical technology making the injury far less career threatening than before, it is still a major red flag for the running back position. So, the fact that Brooks was still drafted so high and the first running back taken off the board is a true testament to his ability.
At the University of Texas, Jonathan Brooks played for three seasons. During his first two years, Brooks got playing time but sat behind Bijan Robinson and Roschan Johnson. In his third year, Brooks got full command of the backfield. He rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games, with 212 receiving yards and a touchdown. If Brooks had not torn his ACL, he likely would have been a first-round draft pick. In college, he showcased his speed, quickness, and shiftiness in the backfield. As long as the ACL injury does not deter the abilities Brooks showed in Texas, he should contribute for the Panthers right away.
Jonathan Brooks’ Expectations
Jonathan Brooks was on the Panthers injured reserve list at the start of the season, while he recovered and rehabbed from his injury. With Brooks out, Carolina’s backfield has been dominated by Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard is on pace to have a career best season and has been one of the bright spots of the Panthers offense. Through 10 games, Hubbard has 818 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns. He also has 124 receiving yards and one touchdown. Behind Hubbard is Miles Sanders. Sanders has 139 rushing yards on the season with one rushing touchdown.
With Hubbard and Sanders both pitching in on the Panthers rushing attack, Jonathan Brooks may not see an extensive workload right away. Chuba Hubbard has been putting together a stellar season where he could easily rush for over 1,000 yards. So, it is unlikely that Brooks takes touches away from him right away. Miles Sanders has been behind Hubbard this season, but he is still an experienced running back. Sanders’ stint with Carolina has been a bit underwhelming considering how much he was signed for, but he had multiple good seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, and with the money Carolina is paying him, they would need to give him snaps to justify that contract.
However, Jonathan Brooks should still be utilized in the Carolina Panthers backfield. He was a second-round draft pick and will need the reps to develop. Also, the Panthers will want to see what they have in the rookie after his torn ACL. Brooks showed that he could be a dynamic back in college and the Panthers offense could use more dynamic players wherever they can get them. The Carolina Panthers are coming off a bye week and hold a two-game winning streak. Their next opponent is the 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs. Jonathan Brooks is expected to make his debut and hopefully make an impact on the Carolina Panthers offense in their upset bid.
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