Panthers coach Dave Canales says RB Jonathon Brooks expected to miss 6-8 weeks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said backup running back Jonathon Brooks is set to undergo surgery on his groin and will miss six to eight weeks.

The Panthers placed Brooks on injured reserve on Wednesday. He will have surgery on Thursday.

The expectation is that Brooks will return later in the season.

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of Carolina’s 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

“It was a pretty significant groin injury,” Canales said following practice on Wednesday.

Canales said the Panthers received multiple medical opinions after Brooks had an MRI on Monday.

“The timeline for return with surgical versus nonsurgical was going to be similar. We agreed this would be the best course of action to get him back,” Canales said.

Brooks has struggled with knee injuries in the past, limiting his playing time to only five of 36 games since joining the league as a second-round pick in 2024.

He tore his ACL during his final season at Texas and then reinjured the same knee during his rookie season with the Panthers. That caused him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season, and all of 2025.

Brooks was used sparingly in Carolina’s first two games of the season as the Panthers were looking to slowly ramp him back up.

Brooks had been slowed by a groin injury in training camp.

“He was bummed,” Canales said of Brooks. “This hit him hard. Particularly after the game. The guys (in the locker room) could feel it too. We were just trying to encourage him. It’s part of this process where your body figures out how you’re going to go forward in this new mode. This is a part of it.”

Chuba Hubbard is Carolina’s starting running back and A.J. Dillon is third on the depth chart. Canales said Anthony Tyus will be promoted from the practice squad and is expected to suit up on Sunday at Cleveland.

Quarterback Bryce Young said he feels for Brooks because he’s been through so much adversity.

“I am going to be praying for him,” Young said. “He works so hard. It’s tough. He’s a soldier and I know he will bounce back and do the work.”

The Panthers signed safety Isaiah Simmons from the practice squad to take Brooks’ spot on the 53-man roster.

Ekeler works out for team, does not sign

The Panthers worked out free agent running back Austin Ekeler on Wednesday, but did not sign him.

Ekeler spent last season with the Washington Commanders.

Dillon said he’s friends with Ekeler and has had him on his podcast. He said they often get confused for each other on social media because they look so much alike.

“It’s kind of like twins,” Dillon said with a laugh.

Dillon said he’s not worried about if the Panthers sign another running back and how that might impact him.

“I don’t really focus too much on who is coming in,” Dillon said. “I believe in myself and trust in myself and my ability to go play football. I’m always prepared to step on the field (like) I’m number one.”

Injuries on defense

The defense forced five turnovers against the Falcons in a dominant performance in Week 2, but came away a little banged up.

Inside linebacker Devin Lloyd sat out practice with a calf injury following a big game against the Falcons that included nine tackles, three pass breakups, a sack and two interceptions with one touchdown that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (back), safety Nick Scott (ribs) and reserve linebacker Claudin Cherelus (shoulder) also did not practice.

Canales said all four players will be evaluated later in the week.

On the positive side for the Panthers, defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (back) and outside linebacker Patrick Jones II (back) were listed as full participants. Jones had missed the team’s first two games and Brown sat out last week.

___

See AP’s full NFL coverage here