Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks will undergo core muscle surgery on Wednesday and land on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least six weeks.
The latest physical hurdle for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks materialized during Sunday’s Week 2 win over the Falcons. Brooks left the Panthers’ 34-3 Week 2 win over the Falcons with what was deemed a groin injury, and after the game, he was seen walking with a heavy limp, according to ESPN. It wasn’t clear what kind of injury he had sustained based on the way he was moving, but turns out it is a core muscle injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared this update on X: #Panthers RB Jonathan Brooks, who left Sunday’s win early, is expected to have surgery today to repair a core muscle injury that will land him on Injured Reserve, sources say. Brooks is out at least 6 weeks, but should return with plenty of time to contribute down the stretch.
The development cuts short a promising rehabilitation arc for a player selected 46th overall in the 2024 NFL draft while still recovering from a college ACL tear at Texas. That initial college injury kept him sidelined until late in his rookie campaign, before a subsequent re-tear of the same right ACL wiped out his entire 2025 season. It’s the latest blow for the 2024 second-round pick, who has dealt with a litany of injuries dating back to college. After missing the start of his rookie season while rehabbing a torn ACL, Brooks took just nine carries over three games before tearing the knee ligament again. He missed all of 2025. Brooks returned this offseason with renewed optimism that he could be the player the Panthers envisioned when they selected him with a second-round pick. In his first two games of the 2026 season, he touched the ball 11 times for 73 yards.
Backfield Adjustments and Chuba Hubbard’s Workload
With Brooks sidelined for over a month, the Panthers must lean heavily on their existing backfield personnel. Chuba Hubbard has commanded the vast majority of the offensive snaps through the opening two games, accounting for 27 touches to Brooks’ 11 and has played 68% of Carolina’s offensive snaps to Brooks’ 25%. In the meantime, Chuba Hubbard will continue to shoulder the load, with veteran AJ Dillon as the backup.
The coaching staff had hoped to bring Brooks along slowly after two devastating knee injuries, but now they will have to begin that build-up process again later this season. Given the buoyancy the coaching staff had when discussing Brooks this offseason — noting he finally looked like the player they saw on his college film — the latest injury is a bummer for the back. It’s a reminder that getting healthy and staying healthy are two different burdens. The hope is that Brooks can return healthy later in the season and provide some pop out of the backfield.
Austin Ekeler Workout and Free Agency Evaluation
To bolster depth while Brooks recovers, the Panthers are working out veteran Austin Ekeler, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday. The Panthers have already begun looking for outside help, with Austin Ekeler set to work out for them on Wednesday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Ekeler, 31, is coming off his own devastating injury — a torn Achilles early last year, when he was with the Commanders. Ekeler, 31, played in two games in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. If healthy, Ekeler could potentially be a pass-catching option alongside Bryce Young.
A Frustrating Trajectory for Carolina’s Investment
The timing of the core muscle surgery underscores an unfortunate run of luck for a player selected in the second round. Brooks has just 52 yards on 18 carries in his career. He still has never so much as gained a single rushing first down.
Prior to the injury, optimism surrounding Brooks ran high within the organization. During offseason media availability, the young running back expressed relief at returning to the field after confirming he had finally been cleared for Carolina Panthers’ offseason program.
“I’ve been cleared by my surgeon. The training staff and the coaching staff will have a plan for me. Just going off what they tell me to do, and just taking it like it is, you know? Getting better every day still, but I am cleared now.”
Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers running back
That optimism has now given way to another extended recovery window. While the coaching staff anticipates that Brooks can return to contribute down the stretch, the immediate priority for Carolina centers on stabilizing the running back rotation.
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