It May Finally Be the Year for Panthers' Jonathan Brooks

Jonathan Brooks has been waiting a long time to get back on the football field. The Carolina Panthers running back finally got his chance during a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He scored a touchdown on a one-yard run, and for Brooks, that moment meant everything. It was a small play, but it came after years of pain, hard work, and patience.

Brooks was picked by the Carolina Panthers with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The team chose him because they believed he could be a big part of their offense. He came into the league with a lot of promise and high hopes. But his path to the NFL has been very difficult from the start.

Before he even played a professional game, Brooks tore his ACL during his last season at the University of Texas. An ACL is an important ligament in the knee, and tearing it is one of the most serious injuries a football player can suffer. Then, in 2024, he tore his ACL again. That second injury forced him to miss the entire 2025 NFL season, keeping him off the field for a very long time.

Getting hurt once is hard enough, but coming back from two ACL tears takes real strength and determination. Brooks had to spend many months going through rehab, which means doing special exercises to heal his knee and build it back up. Many players struggle to return to their best level after just one such injury. Brooks had to do it twice.

Now he is finally back in action, and he is making the most of his chances. During the Panthers' preseason game against the Jaguars, he took a handoff and pushed his way into the end zone from one yard out. It may not sound like a big play, but every step he took was the result of years of hard work. CBS Sports even called him a winner for his effort during the preseason.

The preseason is a time for teams to practice and try new things before the regular season begins. It means the games do not count in the standings, so there is no need to get too excited about one touchdown just yet. But what matters is that Brooks is getting real game experience again after missing so much time. Each carry gives him a chance to get comfortable and find his rhythm.

The Panthers invested a valuable draft pick in Brooks because they saw his talent and believed in his future. Injuries have made it hard for him to show what he can really do at the NFL level. With the regular season coming up, he now has a chance to prove that their faith in him was worth it. For a player who has spent so much time rehabbing and waiting, simply being back on the field is significant.