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Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) is inching ever closer to his return to organized football. After tearing his ACL in college on November 11, 2023, Brooks hasn't played in an NFL game yet. He's still on the PUP list, but things are trending positively, and he could be back soon.
Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft class and has earned a significant amount of hype in fantasy football circles. He rushed 187 times for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns, good for 6.1 yards per carry, and caught 25 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown.
So, when will Jonathon Brooks return and be back for the Panthers? What is his fantasy football outlook?
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Jonathon Brooks Injury Update
The time is coming for Brooks to be activated from PUP and return to practice. That will likely occur within the next two weeks. Typically, running backs return to play from ACL tears in around 11 months, and his November tear would put him on track for an October return based on that timeline.
#Panthers Jonathon Brooks - Suspect PUP activation this wk or next. ~4 game ramp up once activated#Bengals Zack Moss - Video suggests high ankle. Comments suggest low severity. Data favors missing Wk 6#Colts Jonathan Taylor - Wk 6 TBD. Data slightly favors return
5/XX
— Deepak Chona, MD. SportsMedAnalytics (@SportMDAnalysis) October 8, 2024
Fantasy managers are surely impatient by now, but he's closer to a return than ever. It's incredibly unlikely that the Panthers decide to declare him out for the season unless they feel that 2024 is completely lost. There haven't been any setbacks in Brooks' recovery, and the extra time will help him be even stronger when he returns.
UPDATE: The Panthers have released running back Mike Boone, per NFL.com. This could be a corresponding move in advance for the opening of Brooks' 21-day practice window. Be sure to stay updated on this evolving situation.
Panthers have released RB Mike Boone https://t.co/hXFsDcCJl4 pic.twitter.com/4nXHKRtgZn
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) October 8, 2024
Jonathon Brooks Fantasy Football Outlook
While fellow Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard has been playing very well, that's good news for Brooks. The offensive line has done a solid job of run blocking. Despite some injuries on the line, the signings of several linemen last offseason have provided depth that will help them weather the losses.
Here the #Panthers OL dominate their blocking assignments. Hubbard has good vision, cuts up field and takes it to the house.
A fair criticism of Canales has been his lack of commitment to the run- which has been a strength of this team. pic.twitter.com/BYn8iuqjbA
— Dan Tonna (@dan_tonna) October 8, 2024
The rookie has massive upside in this offense. Panthers head coach Dave Canales authored a big season for Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White in 2023, and Brooks should fill in that role sometime in the second half of 2024, with Hubbard serving as a complement.
At some point, Brooks will likely become a must-start running back. Hang onto him. There's no reason to sell low, and for struggling teams, he could be your savior later.
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