The Panthers spent a 2024 second-round pick on running back Jonathon Brooks, but multiple knee injuries have prevented him from contributing within the NFL. There may be optimism that may change in Yr 3 for Brooks, who has been cleared for the Panthers’ offseason program, Joe Person of The Athletic relays.
Despite suffering a torn right ACL in November 2023, Brooks became the primary running back off the board in his draft class. The Panthers took the previous Texas Longhorn forty sixth overall, however the recovery process dragged well into his rookie 12 months. The team finally activated Brooks from the NFI list in November, though he totaled just nine carries over three games before tearing his right ACL again. Now almost 17 months faraway from the injury, Brooks says he’s “near 100%.”
With Brooks unavailable for the majority of his first season, Chuba Hubbard easily led Panthers running backs in carries (250), yards (1,195) and touchdowns (10) during a profession 12 months. The Panthers gave Chubbard a four-year, $33.2MM extension on Nov. 7, 2004, the day after they activated Brooks.
Hubbard remained atop the depth chart entering last season, however it ended up a disappointing campaign for the 26-year-old. Over 15 games, he accrued just 511 yards and a touchdown on 143 carries (3.8 per attempt, down from 4.8 the previous season). Free agent pickup Rico Dowdle took the starting job from Hubbard and amassed 1,076 yards, but he is not any longer on the roster. Dowdle hit the open market again this spring and parlayed his Carolina production right into a two-year, $12.25MM pact with the Steelers.
Dowdle’s exit should create a possibility for a healthy Brooks, especially considering the Panthers didn’t draft a running back this 12 months. Brooks’ primary competition for the No. 2 RB position could possibly be 2025 fourth-rounder Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon, who will turn 28 on Saturday. Etienne posted just 20 carries over a 17-game rookie season, while Dillon’s impact has fallen off since his 2021-23 heyday with Green Bay. After averaging 183 carries and 729 yards per 12 months over that three-season span, Dillon missed all of 2024 with a neck injury and returned to tally just 12 rushes in seven games with the Eagles in 2025. The Panthers brought in Dillon on an affordable free agent deal, which suggests he will not be a lock to make their roster.