Jonathon Brooks has waited a long time for a moment like this. After everything the Carolina Panthers running back has dealt with since entering the NFL, finally finding the end zone was a small but good step forward. Brooks was selected by Carolina with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
He entered the league with lots of promise, but his road back to the field has been anything but simple. He tore his ACL during his final season at Texas, and then suffered another ACL tear in 2024. That second injury forced him to miss the entire 2025 NFL season.
More sports: 49ers’ Jacob Cowing Dubbed a ‘Winner’ in Preseason Now, he's finally back in action. Brooks got his chance during the Panthers' preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he made it count. He took a handoff and worked his way into the end zone from one yard out, giving Carolina a great moment.
It may have only been a one-yard run, but considering the road Brooks has traveled to get back onto an NFL field, it meant a lot more than that. This is still preseason, so there's no reason to get carried away with one touchdown. But, Brooks is finally getting live-game opportunities again after missing so much time, and that's important in itself.
CBS Sports has actually dubbed him a winner for his performance in the preseason. The Panthers drafted him in the second round because they believed he could become an important part of their offense. Injuries have made it difficult for him to show exactly what he can do at the NFL level.
That could finally be changing. Sports news: Eagles’ Ty Robinson is Making an Impression in the Preseason Brooks has another chance to build some momentum before the regular season begins. Every carry gives him another opportunity to get comfortable again and remind everyone why Carolina invested such a valuable draft pick in him.
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