Jonathon Brooks ruled out for preseason, 'doubtful' for season opener with knee injury

After winning just two games last season, the Carolina Panthers looked to add playmakers around second-year quarterback Bryce Young. Part of that plan came together during the NFL Draft with the selections of Xavier Legette and Jonathon Brooks – although one of them will miss the preseason and, perhaps, the season opener.

Panthers coach Dave Canales announced Brooks has been ruled out for the preseason as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered at Texas. His status for the first game of the year against the New Orleans Saints is also in question, and Canales considered Brooks “doubtful” at best for Week 1.

In fact, Brooks could miss Week 2, as well. Canales said the Panthers are taking a cautious approach with the No. 46 overall pick to make sure he’s not rushing into game action. That’s why “something around” Weeks 3 or 4 could be in the cards.

“This is a guy with a long career in front of him, somebody we think really high about, so we want to be really smart with him,” Canales said Saturday, via ESPN’s David Newton.

Brooks is coming off a breakout year at Texas, where he fill the void left by Bijan Robinson. He totaled 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in the running game, while also adding 286 receiving yards in the passing attack.

Brooks tore his ACL in the Longhorns’ game against TCU, ending his season. However, Steve Sarkisian still made sure he appeared in the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State, putting him in the backfield for one of the final kneel-downs to end the victory.

The injury happened on Nov. 11, which is why Canales said there was a plan in place if Brooks was to miss time. That’s why there’ll be a ramp-up process in place once he gets onto the field.

“It’s something we expected,” Canales said. “Coming into the spring, we knew just the timeline and progression of where he was at. We knew we would not have him for the preseason.

“Even if he was kind of ready, there’s a confidence thing that we want to ramp him up little by little so he feels ready to go.”

As far as what it will take for Brooks to play in a game, Canales said it comes down to how his knee feels while making quick plays. The sooner he’s able to do so without pain, the sooner he’ll suit up for Carolina.

“The on-field progression, the type of cuts, maybe running versus change of direction, that whole thing has got to be right,” Canales said. “That’s going to be the determining factor into how soon we can get him back.”