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The most difficult thing any NFL player can do is work their way back from a major injury. It's particularly tough if that player never had a chance to establish himself at this level in the first place, as is the case for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks.
Brooks' college career ended early at Texas when he tore his ACL against TCU in November of 2023. He battled back and eventually worked his way into the Panthers' lineup as a rookie, only to see the same ACL get torn again after just three games.
The path for Brooks has been brutal—and above all else, it requires mental toughness. But the good news is that Brooks has it spades, as noted by second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton from organized team activities earlier this week.
“I love J.B. He’s super quick. He’s getting in and out of his cuts. It’s ridiculous,” Scourton said, via The Athletic. “I’m excited to see him get back on the field, man. Battling through those injuries is tough, and he’s mentally stronger than a lot of people I know. He’s ruthless. So I’m excited for him to get the opportunity to get on that field. But he’s looked really good.”
While the odds are against Brooks returning to the level he was at with Texas before the injuries, it's not impossible. One of Carolina's toughest players of all-time—legendary linebacker Thomas Davis—managed to recover from three ACL tears during his career.
There are positive signs about Brooks' progress, and this anecdote from Scourton is just the latest. Brooks has impressed observers with his burst at OTAs and he's feeling confident enough to declare that he's definitely faster than starter Chuba Hubbard.
If he gets back up to full speed in 2026, it will answer one of the biggest questions hanging over this roster.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers OTAs: Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks praised for toughness
Continue reading...
Brooks' college career ended early at Texas when he tore his ACL against TCU in November of 2023. He battled back and eventually worked his way into the Panthers' lineup as a rookie, only to see the same ACL get torn again after just three games.
The path for Brooks has been brutal—and above all else, it requires mental toughness. But the good news is that Brooks has it spades, as noted by second-year outside linebacker Nic Scourton from organized team activities earlier this week.
“I love J.B. He’s super quick. He’s getting in and out of his cuts. It’s ridiculous,” Scourton said, via The Athletic. “I’m excited to see him get back on the field, man. Battling through those injuries is tough, and he’s mentally stronger than a lot of people I know. He’s ruthless. So I’m excited for him to get the opportunity to get on that field. But he’s looked really good.”
While the odds are against Brooks returning to the level he was at with Texas before the injuries, it's not impossible. One of Carolina's toughest players of all-time—legendary linebacker Thomas Davis—managed to recover from three ACL tears during his career.
There are positive signs about Brooks' progress, and this anecdote from Scourton is just the latest. Brooks has impressed observers with his burst at OTAs and he's feeling confident enough to declare that he's definitely faster than starter Chuba Hubbard.
If he gets back up to full speed in 2026, it will answer one of the biggest questions hanging over this roster.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers OTAs: Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks praised for toughness
Continue reading...
