March 1, 2026, 12:14 p.m. ET

The Carolina Panthers may be able to roll out a game-changing weapon this upcoming season.

ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have dished out their latest news and notes coming off their visit to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. When covering the outlook for the Panthers’ backfield, which seems likely to lose its leading rusher in Rico Dowdle, Graziano reports that Jonathan Brooks has made some exciting strides on his comeback trail.

He writes:

I’m told Brooks is making good progress in his rehab and was up over 21 mph on the treadmill in a recent workout. Carolina is at least hopeful that Brooks can contribute this season, though obviously, his health history will always make that a question.

Brooks, despite sustaining an ACL tear in November of 2023, was taken by the Panthers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The University of Texas standout would miss the first 10 games of his rookie campaign while recovering from the injury.

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He’d make his debut in Week 12 of that season, but re-tore the same ACL in just his third outing. As a result, the Panthers made the early decision to hold Brooks out for the entirety of 2025.

Head coach Dave Canales offered an encouraging update of his own on Brooks back in January.

“We had a plan not to put him out there this year, after a second ACL injury and to make sure that we give him the best chance to compete and affect our roster,” Canales told reporters. “He’s flying around, he’s big, he’s beautiful-looking.

“Just the way that he’s progressed and went about his work. Denny [Kellington] and the staff have done an incredible job of bringing him back on, the strength staff as well. He’s one of the more powerful, explosive athletes that we have—and he’s gonna have an opportunity to compete to start for this team, just like a lot of other guys.”

Along with Brooks, who is still just 22 years old, the Panthers are expected to carry starting running back Chuba Hubbard and 2025 fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne into 2026.

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