Jonathan Brooks parts of Joe Person Athletic article dec 8

[raleigh-panther]

By Joseph Person

Dec. 8, 2025Updated 3:07 am PST

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jonathon Brooks will spend Monday like he’s spent nearly every other day over the past two years: Rehabbing his twice-repaired right knee while an NFL season continues without him.

Monday marks one year since the Carolina Panthers running back tore his ACL a second time on a non-contact play in the first quarter of a 22-16 loss at Philadelphia. Brooks didn’t realize a year had passed since he went down at Lincoln Financial Field on his only carry against the Eagles, but he appreciates the significance of the day.

“Honestly, it just makes me see how far I’ve come,” Brooks told The Athletic during a phone interview during the Panthers’ bye week. “I feel pretty much almost 100 percent again. From the moment it happened, I knew that God had a plan. I knew that it was all gonna be OK and I was gonna be right back to where I was.”

Brooks isn’t all the way back, but he’s doing straight-line running while improving his speed most weeks. He hopes to start incorporating full-speed cutting and route running soon and return to the practice field in the spring in time for OTAs.

Brooks, the Panthers’ second-round pick in 2024, has endured some down days over the past year, particularly in the immediate aftermath of his re-injury.

“When it first happened, he was devastated. I was, too. I just couldn’t believe it,” said Jennifer Donovan, Brooks’ mother. “I thought for sure he was healed completely. Just didn’t hear too many times that it happened again and again like that. And only just a year later, I was devastated. And I know he was, too, at first.”

But he pushed through thanks to the support of his family, his Christian faith and his teammates. He received guidance from two members of the training and strength and conditioning departments and drew inspiration after hearing from players like Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry and former Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.

Davis famously became the first NFL player to return from three torn ACLs in the same knee, playing another nine seasons that included a Super Bowl appearance and three Pro Bowl berths.

Davis reached out to Brooks right after the injury to express his concern, and later joined Brooks for workouts during which Davis would show him exercises that worked well for him during his recovery. The two have stayed in touch, with Brooks shooting Davis texts or an occasional picture from a training session.

That’s a legend in the locker room,” Brooks said. “That’s a legend who’s played for the Panthers, so I’ve got all the utmost respect for him and a lot (of) respect for helping me when he doesn’t have to.”

Brooks has watched the replay of his injury more than 20 times. He blames himself for trying to run outside rather than hitting the hole between left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and wide receiver Adam Thielen. But when Brooks spotted defensive back Avonte Maddox coming up in run support, he tried to beat him to the edge with a jump cut.

“I had no business even trying to go outside. My read was there,” Brooks said. “My read was supposed to keep me inside. I chased what we call fool’s gold and I was gonna try to outrun the DB. But it was just the wrong read.”

Brooks said he’d made harder cuts the previous week against Tampa Bay with no problems. He’s not sure why his knee gave out on the grass surface at Lincoln Financial Field. “I think it was just bad timing,” he said.

Panthers coach Dave Canales announced the next day that Brooks had re-torn the ligament. Slavin, Brooks’ Dallas-based agent, was relieved the ACL was the only part of Brooks’ knee impacted.

“It was an ACL-only, so it wasn’t like one of these devastating knee injuries that a lot of guys have. When it’s the one ligament, you think they’d be able to come back,” Slavin said.

“If we could do it all over again, I’m sure they’d redshirt him last year and this year would’ve been his year. But they tried to get him out there. It’s tough to always look back. Moving forward, I think he’s gonna be an elite running back still.”

After waiting a month for the swelling to subside, Brooks flew to Los Angeles for the surgery performed by renowned sports orthopedic Neal ElAttrache. Donovan said ElAttrache harvested part of the patellar tendon from Brooks’ left knee to reconstruct his ACL because the patellar from his right knee was used in the first surgery in Texas.

Additionally, ElAttrache used a strip of the IT band from Brooks’ right leg as a graft to reinforce his ACL, according to Donovan. “I’m praying that is going to be the key thing in keeping him stronger. He felt very confident with it,” Donovan said of ElAttrache, who also handled Panthers guard Robert Hunt’s biceps surgery this fall.

Brooks said both Dowdle and Hubbard have tried to make sure he still feels like part of the running back room while he’s recovered. Brooks also praised the training staff, especially the two staffers he’s worked most closely with — athletic trainer Harrison Grube and assistant strength and conditioning coach Thomas Barbeau.

The team has said little about Brooks since last December. But any expectations the Panthers have for Brooks in 2026 naturally will be tempered by concerns of injury risk. Donovan tries not to let her mind go down that path.

“Definitely the first time was worse just because he wasn’t sure what to expect. The second time it was devastating again, but at least we kind of knew,” she said. “So I’m just praying and praying and praying there surely won’t be another. I don’t even want to put it out there in existence.”

Having been through all of this just last year, Brooks has a better feel for what works and what doesn’t. When he was experiencing pain in his knee after some of the strengthening exercises, the Panthers’ trainers changed his lifts. The tips from Davis have also helped.

If all goes according to plan, Brooks will on the practice field in the spring. And while some might be inclined to hold their breath the first time he gets the call or makes a cut, Brooks is turning it over to a higher power.

“I want to be back for OTAs so I can get back on that football field and get back to running the plays full speed, being in a team setting. Just so whenever we do hit (training) camp, I can hit the ground running and ultimately, just prove myself,” he said.

“I feel like I haven’t gotten that chance in the league to prove myself. And that’s OK. It’s a part of God’s plan. And I know that when I get out there, I trust in myself, trust in my teammates, trust in God that I’ll be able to get it done.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kungfoodude]

If he is healthy soon enough, it could impact our future plans at RB.

We will see what happens. I think I would rather re-sign Dowdle and have a safer, surer option.

[csx]

Expect nothing and hope for anything 

[Johnstonny]

I don't think he'll every really contribute... That knee popping again will always be in the back of his mind and he may run tentatively because of it. Hes been out of football for 2 years. I'm all in favor of signing Rico...its the smart thing to do, so don't expect it.

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm rooting for the guy but honestly wouldn't be counting on him to be a contributor if I'm Dan Morgan. If he ends up bouncing back and contributing, great! If not, well we've already planned for this.

[ForJimmy]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

If he is healthy soon enough, it could impact our future plans at RB.

We will see what happens. I think I would rather re-sign Dowdle and have a safer, surer option.

I'm not a fan of rolling with Chuba and Dowdle on sizeable contracts next year.  I'd rather let Dowdle walk and either sign another cheap vet or let Chuba be our feature back again.  

[mav1234]

I hope he makes a full recovery and can contribute on the field... I think that is ultimately unlikely though.

[TheBigKat]

if we are investing the money in the O-line (Mays / Ekwonu) then Rico is odd man out.... It'll be Chuba / Etienne / Brooks

[Khyber53]

Blessings to him, whichever way it works out.

[PNW_PantherMan]

Makes sense to take a RB on day 3 at least every other year.

[Soul Rebel]

25 minutes ago, TheBigKat said:

if we are investing the money in the O-line (Mays / Ekwonu) then Rico is odd man out.... It'll be Chuba / Etienne / Brooks

This is where I'm at. Dowdle is a feel good story and glad he's proving his doubters wrong. I just don't see how we keep our OL intact (which is the right move) and spend on another RB after giving Chuba his money.

Though the odds are against him, I do think Brooks can still be our RB2 next year..and if he stays healthy, our longterm RB1. Having the full offseason with no pressure to try and come back like last year will help. I'm also happy to see he and TD have been connecting. 

If this team is smart, they go into next year with Chuba/Brooks/ETN and sign a Dowdle-light version in FA at minimum cost. Chuba is in his prime and a full offseason to fully recharge will only benefit him more.

Dowdle is unfortunately a luxury item I don't think we can spend our money on. We still have other areas of need that we have to improve on the defensive side of the ball. 

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, ForJimmy said:

I'm not a fan of rolling with Chuba and Dowdle on sizeable contracts next year.  I'd rather let Dowdle walk and either sign another cheap vet or let Chuba be our feature back again.  

A RB has a short shelf life--coming off a good season in a contract year, their agents know this has to be the big payday.  Keep the $$$ on the OL and keep young RBs in the stable.  RARELY does a second contract pay off at RB.  So I agree.

[strato]

I asked in Person’s mail bag last season about who did the Texas surgery and who did the 2nd one and he never addressed it. Now there is finally something. 
 

Glad a different surgeon was used. 
 

And I disagree that he should not have been used last year.

If he hadn’t we probably don’t have Dowdle, and are surprised when the knee fails - which it was going to do if it wasn’t right. 
So we tested his knee last year and found out what we had, and had no 2025 surprises. 
That was the right move. Unfortunate outcome but left us in a much better position to make adjustments. 
 

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

get Thomas Davis in the ring of honor