CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers rookie working again Jonathon Brooks re-injured the ACL in his proper knee Sunday in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, ending his season and placing the 2025 season in jeopardy, as properly.
Brooks, a second-round decide from Texas who was the primary working again drafted this 12 months, was harm on a non-contact play within the first quarter at Philadelphia when he went down on his personal for a 3-yard loss. Panthers coach Dave Canales stated that an MRI on Monday confirmed Brooks had re-torn the ligament and would require a second surgical procedure 14 months after his preliminary process. He stated there have been no different extra accidents to his proper knee.
“My coronary heart is with him,” Canales stated.
Dave Canales stated his coronary heart goes out to Jonathon Brooks. pic.twitter.com/uG2lj15hbs
— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 9, 2024
The Panthers activated Brooks in November earlier than the workforce’s journey to Munich. But the workforce selected to carry him out in opposition to the New York Giants due to considerations over the situation of the grass floor at Allianz Arena.
Brooks made his debut with two carries in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 earlier than getting 9 touches the next week in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, together with 5 in a row when the Panthers had been in scoring place.
The Panthers envisioned a backfield tandem that includes the complementary working kinds of Chuba Hubbard and Brooks, who’s extra of a shifty, change-of-pace again than the downhill-running Hubbard.
Now the 21-year-old Brooks will put together for an additional surgical procedure, adopted by rehab course of that figures to stretch deep into the 2025 season. It’s probably Brooks is not going to play once more till 2026.
Dave Canales stated no different ligaments impacted in Jonathon Brooks’ knee. Canales did not need to get into timeline. But given his restoration schedule from his first ACL, I might suppose subsequent 12 months is in jeopardy.
“I’m desirous about him. This will not be concerning the Panthers.”— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 9, 2024
Should Panthers have held Brooks out all season?
It’s simple to query that now, however the Panthers’ teaching and medical employees took a cautious method with Brooks. Adrian Peterson and different NFL gamers have come again as quickly as eight months after ACL surgical procedure, whereas Brooks returned a 12 months after his process. Brooks and people round him had been on board with enjoying this season. Another query is whether or not the Panthers had been flawed to draft a working again coming off a significant surgical procedure, on condition that Hubbard was already on the roster. There are loads of examples of gamers who had lengthy, productive careers after ACL surgical procedures — from Peterson, who ran for two,000 yards and was the 2012 MVP in his first season again, to Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, who performed 9 extra seasons and went to a few Pro Bowls after tearing his ACL a 3rd time. Brooks was among the many nation’s main rushers on the time of his damage in opposition to TCU on Nov. 11, 2023.
How do the Panthers change Brooks?
Brooks was not the one Panthers working again to get harm Sunday. Raheem Blackshear was taken to a Philadelphia hospital to be evaluated for a chest damage earlier than returning to Charlotte with the workforce. Veteran Miles Sanders is on injured reserve with an ankle damage and never eligible to return till a Dec. 22 dwelling recreation in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals. The solely different wholesome working backs are Mike Boone and Emani Bailey on the observe squad. Beyond this season, the Panthers now want a plan for 2025. Before Brooks’ damage, most anticipated the Panthers to chop ties with Sanders, who fell out of favor after Frank Reich and Duce Staley had been fired. The Panthers can save $5.2 million in opposition to the wage cap (with $2.95 million in useless cash) by releasing Sanders this offseason.
Chuba Hubbard was the one wholesome RB on the finish of Sunday’s recreation. But there’s an opportunity Raheem Blackshear will probably be again this week. He sustained a chest contusion vs. Eagles and is day-to-day, per Dave Canales.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 9, 2024
Required studying
(Photo: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images)
