Panthers ‘gathering information’ on RB Jonathon Brooks’ knee injury in loss to Eagles
Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathon Brooks faces an uncertain future after leaving Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles with a right knee injury.
Brooks, the team’s second-round draft pick, sustained a non-contact right knee injury on a run midway through the first quarter. Brooks tried to cut in the backfield but fell to the ground for a 3-yard loss. He got up limping and hobbling on the right knee before falling back to the ground.
He was immediately looked over by trainers and fellow running back Chuba Hubbard. Brooks went into the blue medical tent and then was transported, on the front seat of a cart, off the sideline and into the locker room.
The Panthers ruled Brooks out for the remainder of the game following halftime.
Immediately following the matchup against the Eagles, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the team is still evaluating the injury. Canales didn’t want to jump to conclusions about the ailment.
“They’re still gathering a bunch of information,” Canales said. “We do know that it’s something going on, some pain in his knee. We’re going to have to do a bunch more imaging before we can make a declaration on what’s happening there.”
The head coach, who had started get the rookie more involved in the offense during the past two weeks, said Brooks’ injury sequence was tough to watch.
“It was certainly scary for him, scary for all of us,” Canales said. “But again, we’ll collect all the information, and we’ll give you more as we figure that out.”
Brooks tore his right ACL during his final year at the University of Texas. He underwent surgery on the knee, but the Panthers still traded up to select Brooks with the 46th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Brooks spent all of training camp and the preseason on the non-football injury (NFI) list. He was sidelined during the regular season until Week 12’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Through three games, Brooks has produced 22 rushing yards and 23 receiving yards on 12 total touches.
Outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum, who produced a sack in Sunday’s loss, took part in rehabilitation sessions with Brooks throughout the season with both players on injury lists. Wonnum, who returned from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list in November, said it was tough to see Brooks go down after his return just a few weeks ago.
“Ain’t going to lie, it was really tough, cause I’ve seen the work that he put in,” Wonnum said. “We were in (return to play rehabilitation) each and every day. And I know how hard he worked, and how hard we all worked, so to see that, it kind of hurt me a little bit. I don’t really what his condition is or what’s going on right now, but I guess we’ll see when we get back.
“But prayers up for him. It sucks, but hopefully, everything’s okay.”
Backup running back Raheem Blackshear also left the game in the first quarter with a chest injury. According to Canales, Blackshear, a Philadelphia native, went to a local hospital for evaluation during the game.
With Blackshear and Brooks potentially set to miss time with injuries, the Panthers are likely to rely on veteran practice squad running back Mike Boone behind Hubbard in the coming weeks. The team could also look to bring in a free agent to help with depth on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.
Along with Brooks and Blackshear, starting cornerback Jaycee Horn sustained a groin injury in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade for the remainder of the game opposite starter Mike Jackson.
This story was originally published December 8, 2024 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Panthers ‘gathering information’ on RB Jonathon Brooks’ knee injury in loss to Eagles."
