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The Carolina Panthers boosted their backfield by selecting Texas standout Jonathon Brooks in the second round of this April’s NFL Draft. The question now is whether or not Brooks will be the primary ball carrier right off the bat or if he will have to wait until midseason to take over the Panthers rushing attack.
Brooks is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in November and has not played during the preseason. Carolina has not rushed him back since the Panthers have veterans Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders at the position and the team wants to be cautious with their speedster’s knee. The usual recovery time for a torn ACL these days is 9-12 months, so Brooks’ availability has always been a question mark since he was injured last November.
So will Brooks be able to begin his rookie campaign in time on Week 1? Or will the talented tailback have to wait a month before getting his hands on NFL hand-offs?
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Will Jonathon Brooks Play in Week 1?
No, Brooks will not play in Week 1. The Panthers have decided to keep him on the non-football injury list that he has been on throughout the preseason, so that means he will miss the first four games of the regular season.
Carolina is leaving rookie RB Jonathon Brooks on the PUP/NFI list, which means he is ineligible to be active during the first four games of the season, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/rU3AD4la3u
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2024
Hubbard and Sanders will split the touches and time during the first month until Brooks is ready to roll.
Jonathon Brooks 2024 Fantasy Outlook
While this is a shame for Brooks and fantasy managers who hoped he would be ready in time, this should not be a surprise to most. Fantasy managers, especially in dynasty leagues, should not be discouraged. The Panthers selected him ahead of any other rookie runner because he was the best back coming out of college. Brooks will eventually be Carolina’s top tailback. It is more of a question of when than how.
Sanders was a flop in his first season after signing a multimillion-dollar deal in the offseason of 2023. Hubbard is a solid backup and rushed for a career-high 902 yards last year, but he is not a game-breaker (no 30-yard gains in 2023) or difference-maker like Brooks is. Brooks can make plays on the ground, but what separated him from most backs in the draft was his above-average pass-catching skills and dynamic tackle-breaking abilities.
Brooks will slowly be worked into the offense once he returns since there will be an adjustment period because he had no reps during the preseason. He was not taken in the second round by the Panthers for him to ride the pine while Hubbard and Sanders fall forward for three yards per carry, though.
Draft Brooks in dynasty leagues and enjoy him being the cornerstone of Carolina’s rushing attack for years to come. You just need to be patient and have another option at RB on your fantasy squad for the next four to eight weeks until he is ready to run over the NFL.
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