Jonathon Brooks on the hardest part of his recovery from major knee injury at Texas

Carolina will soon finally get to see their second-round draft pick in action for the first time in 2024.

Tim Weaver | Oct 17, 2024

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 04: Jonathon Brooks #24 of the Carolina Panthers attends Carolina Panthers OTA Offseason Workout on June 04, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. / (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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Carolina Panthers

For the first time this year the Carolina Panthers got to see their second-round NFL draft pick in action at practice yesterday, as the team officially began rookie running back Jonathon Brooks' 21-day practice window to return from the NFI list, which he's been on since the start of the season.

Brooks joining the lineup should give a shot in the arm for a fanbase that's running low on things to be excited about this season. Despite their 1-5 start to the year, one thing the Panthers have done consistently well is run the ball at a high level. That inspires even more hope and hype that they might have something special in Brooks.

Brooks still has a ways to go, though. Head coach Dave Canales told reporters yesterday that he doesn't anticipate he will be activated for a few more weeks. It's been a long road to recovery for the rookie, who suffered a torn ACL in his last college game for the Texas Longhorns last November against TCU. Here's what Brooks had to say about the process when he spoke with media yesterday.

Jonathon Brooks on his ACL recovery

Jonathon Brooks says the biggest hurdle returning 11 months after ACL surgery is mental more so than physical. pic.twitter.com/ncwZe4VO5Y
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 16, 2024

Getting Brooks into the lineup will give the Panthers a good problem to have. After he was drafted, we assumed that Brooks would quickly take over the lead rusher role for this offense once he joined the lineup. However, the surprisingly strong start to the 2024 season for Chuba Hubbard has changed that equation.

While Brooks still projects as the long-term RB1, Hubbard is playing too well right now to simply discard him, even in favor of a highly-touted prospect like Brooks. It will be interesting to see how Canales decides to play his cards, here.