Jonathon Brooks's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is practicing for the first time this season following the team opening his practice window earlier this week. The Texas product has missed the first six games of his rookie season following an ACL tear in November of last year, but he is trending toward making his NFL debut soon. Brooks was selected as the first running back off the board in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft after his final collegiate season which saw him post over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in just 10 games. He should be expected to be involved in Carolina's offense when he is activated to the gameday roster, but there is speculation that he could have to wait until Week 8 or 9 to play in his first game at the NFL level. Fantasy managers with Brooks stashed should monitor his status, but it would be surprising if he plays against the Commanders in Week 7. For now, Chuba Hubbard remains a strong starting option in fantasy lineups.UPDATE: Brooks was officially limited in Wednesday's practice.

The Carolina Panthers are opening running back Jonathon Brooks' (knee) practice window this week, but according to Joe Person of The Athletic, the team is likely not going to rush him into game action. Person said a Week 9 return for the home game against the New Orleans Saints is a "realistic target" for Brooks to begin his NFL career. The organization knew Brooks would not be ready to start his rookie season following a late 2023 ACL tear at Texas, and Chuba Hubbard has been excellent as the lead back thus far. Carolina is far from a Super Bowl or playoff contender, so they will likely play it safe with Brooks. When Brooks returns, he'll likely share touches with Hubbard and be eased into action, but hopefully, he'll be a flex-worthy fantasy football option late in the season and for the fantasy football playoffs. Managers who are stashing him will likely have to wait a bit longer for him to make an impact.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales discussed rookie running back Jonathon Brooks' (knee) role in the backfield, stating, "We'll have to see that. We'll have to see that come to life and see what he looks like in practice." Brooks, who tore his ACL while at Texas last season, was placed on the Non-Football Injury list at the start of training camp as a second-round pick. Canales refrained from speculating on Brooks' potential role, emphasizing the importance of first evaluating his performance in practice. In the meantime, fourth-year running back Chuba Hubbard has stepped up as the team's lead back, boasting 86 carries for 485 yards and two touchdowns. It will be intriguing to see how the distribution of carries changes once Brooks is back in game shape. Additionally, there are rumors that Hubbard could be on the trade block, as the Panthers, currently with only one win in the 2024 season, may be looking to sell. The running back situation in Carolina remains interesting to monitor for fantasy, especially since quarterback Andy Dalton took over as quarterback and made Panthers players relevant again.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that the team hopes to open up the 21-day practice window for rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) this week. Brooks, a second-round selection by the Panthers out of Texas back in April, is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in college. The 21-year-old appears to be nearing his return to make his NFL debut, but just because his practice window is set to open this week doesn't mean he'll be active in the Week 7 contest against the Washington Commanders. And with Chuba Hubbard being one of the best running backs in the league over the last few weeks, the Panthers have no need to rush Brooks back into the fold before he's ready. Brooks should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues, but now that he's getting close to joining Carolina's backfield, he's not a bad stash in deeper redraft leagues, either, especially if you're hurting at the RB position.

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) said he thinks there's a chance he could open his 21-day practice window next week. Brooks acknowledged there's really no reason to rush back as much as he wants to play. The running game is currently in good hands with Chuba Hubbard. At the very least, Brooks should push Miles Sanders down the RB depth chart in Carolina, and he could force a timeshare with Hubbard in the backfield later on this season once he's up to speed. The 21-year-old is now 11 months removed from a torn ACL, so the Panthers will surely ease him back in, and he won't be a lock to make his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Washington Commanders, even if he resumes practicing next week. For now, Brooks is worth stashing in the majority of fantasy formats after being the first RB taken in this year's draft in April.