A sidelined Panthers RB battles back from injuries, driven to prove his worth and silence doubts in the upcoming season.
The Carolina Panthers tried to create a culture of competition with the way they selected athletes during the 2026 NFL Draft.
One player on the roster will come into the upcoming season with a chip on his shoulder this fall.
The Panthers selected Jonathon Brooks in the second round of the 2024 draft just months after he suffered an ACL injury.
Brooks appeared in three games and started one for Carolina in 2024, rushing for 22 yards on nine carries and recording 23 receiving yards on three receptions.
In just his third game for the Panthers, Brooks suffered another ACL injury against the Philadelphia Eagles. The injury ended his season, and the running back missed the entire 2025 campaign on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Brooks was unhappy with his performance during his rookie season. He feels like he has a lot to prove in the upcoming season. He was upset by not being able to correct his performance on the field because of his ACL injury.
"To be quite honest, I don't think any rep I had my rookie year was good," Brooks said, via the Panthers. "There's a lot I want to work on, and that was kind of the frustrating part, too. For the limited touches that I had, I knew what I had to do better.
"And the fact that I got hurt again, that's what I feel like at first angered me so much because I knew I had so much to show and to fix and to kind of—I don't have to prove anyone, just to prove myself."
Brooks has been working with fellow Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard to elevate his game in the backfield. Hubbard has been a good mentor for Brooks to learn how to take care of his body.
"It meant a lot and knowing that he (Hubbard) still has faith in me, just because we're close enough to where you can have that conversation with your brother," Brooks said.
"And, just going to the offseason, it sticks in my head because I know, not only do I want to be good for myself, but I want to be good for the team."
The duo of Brooks and Hubbard could be dangerous for the Panthers this season. It'll be exciting to see the two of them work together this fall.
Brooks should be much improved in his third season in the league. If he can stay healthy, his production should outpace his rookie season.