Jonathon Brooks’ NFL career is on hold once again. The Carolina Panthers have placed the 2024 second-round pick on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, officially ruling him out for the 2025 season as he recovers from his second ACL tear in as many years.
Panthers placed RB Jonathon Brooks on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he now will be out for the 2025 season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2025
Jonathon Brooks’ Injury History
Brooks’ first ACL tear was during his Junior year at Texas, which caused him to slide down in the draft to the Carolina Panthers at No. 46th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Carolina was able to rest him for 10 games before he made his debut in Week 12. Heartbreakingly, just three games later, he re-injured the same knee during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 21-year-old running back saw his rookie season end with just 22 rushing yards on nine carries and 23 receiving yards on three catches, and a far cry from the explosive talent many scouts saw in that draft class as the best RB prospect.
Between two consecutive injuries, and with only 12 total touches in the NFL under his belt, Brooks has a very long road to recovery ahead of him. According to league sources, the Panthers are taking a cautious, long-term approach, aiming to give Brooks a full 18-month recovery timeline. The hope is that by the 2026 training camp, he’ll be fully healthy and mentally ready to compete again.
The Panthers have made several moves to fill the gap. Chuba Hubbard was named the team’s lead back in 2024, racking up 1,195 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns before receiving a four-year, $33.2 million extension. Carolina also signed former Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle and drafted Georgia’s Trevor Etienne in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jonathon Brooks, who at one time was a future star, is now fighting for a spot on a roster in 2026. If, after two major surgeries, he can recover to his form, his talent could still shine — but the comeback road is steep.
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