Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks has experienced another bump in the road.
Brooks is expected to undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair a core muscle injury, which is expected to keep him out at least six weeks, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources.
The Carolina ball-carrier was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, knocking him out for at least four games. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Brooks is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Brooks left early in Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons and did not return.
It's the latest blow for the 2024 second-round pick, who has dealt with a litany of injuries dating back to college. After missing the start of his rookie season while rehabbing a torn ACL, Brooks took just nine carries over three games before tearing the knee ligament again. He missed all of 2025.
Brooks returned this offseason with renewed optimism that he could be the player the Panthers envisioned when they selected him with a second-round pick. In his first two games of the 2026 season, he touched the ball 11 times for 73 yards.
Given the buoyancy the coaching staff had when discussing Brooks this offseason -- noting he finally looked like the player they saw on his college film -- the latest injury is a bummer for the back. It's a reminder that getting healthy and staying healthy are two different burdens.
The hope is that Brooks can return healthy later in the season and provide some pop out of the backfield. In the meantime, Chuba Hubbard will continue to shoulder the load, with veteran AJ Dillon as the backup.
The Panthers are working out veteran Austin Ekeler, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reported Wednesday. Ekeler, 31, played in two games in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. If healthy, Ekeler could potentially be a pass-catching option alongside Bryce Young.
