As the NFL season gears up, the Carolina Panthers are making moves to finalize their roster, impacting both new and veteran players. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that rookie running back Jonathon Brooks, who showed promise in his days with the Texas Longhorns, will begin his professional career on the sidelines, landing on the Panthers' Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. This designation means Brooks won't be suiting up until after Week 4 of the regular season, as noted by QC News.
Besides sidelining the injured Brooks, who tore his ACL last November, the team has decided to also place a couple of seasoned EDGE rushers on the PUP list—a move not entirely unexpected as NFL teams start to finely tune their lineups. However, despite this setback, Brooks has intensely rehabbed and is reported to be progressing smoothly in recovery, though not quite ready to make his anticipated NFL debut. "Carolina is leaving rookie RB Jonathon Brooks on the PUP/NFI list, which means he is ineligible to be active during the first four games of the season," Schefter posted on his X account.
Carolina is leaving rookie RB Jonathon Brooks on the PUP/NFI list, which means he is ineligible to be active during the first four games of the season, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/rU3AD4la3u
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2024
According to CBS Sports, Brooks' collegiate performance was nothing to overlook. Before his injury, he had rushed for 1,139 yards and scored 10 touchdowns over 11 games. This level of play positioned him as a top prospect, despite the injury, and he was the first running back to be selected in the 2024 draft class. With such a high draft investment, the Panthers are assuredly eager to see Brooks realize his potential on the field.
The roster changes signal the Panthers’ strategy to foster long-term health and performance over immediate gain, even as they have to temporarily go without potential star power. As the Panthers aim to ensure a full recovery for their top pick. This careful approach prominently features in roster strategies across the league, and the Sports Illustrated confirms that the running back, alongside the two veteran rushers, won’t be seen in action until well into October at the earliest.
