Panthers place RB Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve

The Carolina Panthers have placed backup running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve due to a groin injury, according to a source. The injury required Brooks to undergo surgery on Wednesday, which will sideline him for a minimum of six weeks. Despite this setback, Brooks is anticipated to make a return during the current season. To fill the void left by Brooks, the Panthers signed safety Isaiah Simmons from their practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Coach Dave Canales revealed that Brooks sustained the groin injury during the team's 34-3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. At the time, the team was awaiting the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the full extent of the injury. Brooks, who has faced challenges with knee injuries in the past, has managed to play in only five of the potential 36 games since joining the league as a second-round pick in 2024.

His career has been marred by two torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs), one during his final season at Texas and another during his rookie season with the Panthers, which led to his absence from games in 2024 and 2025.

Brooks has had limited playing time in the Panthers' first two games of the season. The starting running back position is currently held by Chuba Hubbard, while A.J. Dillon is third in the depth chart. The team is exploring the possibility of signing veteran free agents to bolster their running back position, with potential candidates including Austin Ekeler from the Washington Commanders and Kareem Hunt from the Kansas City Chiefs. The Panthers are set to play against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.