The Panthers, perhaps surprisingly, showed serious signs of life in 2024. Bryce Young took noticeable steps after a couple of wobbles in the early season, while Chuba Hubbard posted a Pro Bowl-caliber campaign.
All that amounted to a 5-12 record that inspired optimism among sections of Carolina's fanbase.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, there's certainly hope that the Panthers could improve on their 2024 displays. Young's progression is a big reason why, as was Hubbard's production.
But there was another tailback also slated to make it big this season: Jonathon Brooks.
The Texas alum was only able to accrue nine carries during his maiden year. He hoped to improve on his figures as a sophomore, at least until he tore his ACL.
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With that, here's the latest on Brooks' injury, one that will keep him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
Jonathon Brooks injury timeline
Nov. 11, 2023
After receiving precious few carries while playing behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson during his freshman and sophomore seasons, Brooks emerged as Texas' lead back in 2023. He paid back Steve Sarkisian's faith with explosive output in his first 11 matches of the season, tallying 1,139 yards and 10 scores on just 187 carries.
But on a brisk November matchup against TCU, Brooks crumbled to the turf after absorbing a tackle. He was found to have suffered a torn ACL in his right knee, causing him to miss the final four games of the season. Carolina still valued him highly enough to select him with its second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But he would start his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Nov. 24, 2024
Almost a year after tearing his ACL, Brooks returned to the field for the Panthers, making his big-league debut against the Chiefs. He collected two carries for seven yards in the three-point defeat.
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Dec. 8, 2024
Just two weeks after getting back on the field, Brooks tore his ACL in his right knee for the second time. The injury occurred while he was attempting to get down the field in a loss to the Eagles. Brooks went down without contact and needed to be carted off the field as a result of the injury.
May 8, 2025
Brooks was formally placed on the physically unable to perform, ensuring that he misses the entirety of the 2025 season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
When will Jonathon Brooks return?
The exact date of Brooks' on-field homecoming remains to be seen. But it most certainly won't come in the 2024 season; Brooks will have to wait until 2025, at the minimum, to get his pads back on.
With Hubbard waiting in the wings — a man who tallied nearly 1,200 yards last year — the Panthers should have some strength at the position.
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What is the PUP list?
The PUP list stands for physically unable to perform. It refers to a specific designation in which NFL sides are allowed to enlist injured talents for team activities, but cannot actually have them practice or play.
There are two components of the PUP list. The first is the Active/PUP list, used when NFL rosters balloon to 90-man corps. Players labeled PUP still count towards a franchise's 90-man limit and cannot be activated from the list. But once they are removed from the catalog, they cannot return.
The second category is the Reserve/PUP list. It occurs when rosters shrink to 53 players ahead of the regular season. If a player is not taken off the list before the 4 p.m. ET roster cut deadline, then they're immediately transferred to the Reserve/PUP list, where they have to miss a minimum of four games.