Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks is headed back to injured reserve after sustaining a core muscle injury in Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Brooks is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks. He exited the Falcons game early and was unable to return.
Another interruption for Brooks
- Carolina drafted Brooks in the second round in 2024, but his NFL debut was delayed while he recovered from a torn ACL suffered in college.
- He appeared in three games as a rookie, totaling nine rushing attempts, before suffering another ACL tear.
- The second knee injury kept Brooks out for the entire 2025 season.
- Brooks returned for the start of the 2026 campaign and handled 11 touches for 73 yards across his first two games.
- His latest injury will now require a procedure and an injured reserve designation, sidelining him for at least six weeks.
The setback comes after an encouraging offseason in which Carolina’s coaching staff believed Brooks had regained the burst and form that made him a high draft choice. The Panthers still hope he can return later this season and add explosiveness to the backfield.
Panthers weighing backfield options
Chuba Hubbard is set to remain Carolina’s lead back while veteran AJ Dillon takes on the No. 2 role during Brooks’ absence.
The Panthers are also bringing in veteran Austin Ekeler for a workout. Ekeler, 31, played only two games in 2025 before an Achilles tear ended his season. If he proves healthy, he could offer Bryce Young a proven receiving option out of the backfield.
