Panthers’ electric playmaker has feel-good moment in preseason win, but one major question remains before saying he’s truly back
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks returned to the field for the first time in a game setting last week and on Friday he scored his first ever NFL touchdown. However, it’s hard to tell if he’s going to be fully ready for Week 1 or not.
The Carolina Panthers delivered a strong preseason victory Friday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the starting offense looked far more polished than a week ago. The biggest moment of the game though belonged to running back Jonathon Brooks, who found the end zone for his first career NFL touchdown.
It was a significant milestone for Brooks, who made his return to action last week against the Buffalo Bills. That first appearance was more about getting his feet wet after playing the opening two drives with the starting offense, and the overall offensive performance from the entire unit left a lot to be desired.
Friday’s game was different for Carolina’s starting offense. Panthers fans got to see Brooks a bit more involved but, his overall production still left fans eagerly waiting more.
Brooks finished his day with five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by an 11-yard run. He was not targeted in the passing game, so there’s still more to see there from the young back and he had one bad rep in pass protection. But what he showed Friday was another small step forward, even if it remains just a taste of his potential.
The resiliency behind Jonathon Brooks’ moment after scoring his first career NFL touchdown
The context surrounding that first career touchdown did make Friday’s game even more meaningful for Brooks. Everyone knows his story by now, including battling back from two ACL tears that forced him to miss the majority of his NFL career up to this point.
Many wondered whether he would ever reach this moment. The resiliency and drive he showed throughout his rehabilitation to get back onto the field has been remarkable, and seeing him punch the ball into the end zone, even in a meaningless preseason game, validated that entire journey.
“It just showed all the hard work he’s put in come to life,” Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard said during the game. “Obviously, throughout this period that he’s been going through that he’s just been trying to work and get back on the field. I was telling him that’s the first of many. I was happy to see him in the end zone.”
What comes next for Brooks’ expectations looking ahead to Week 1?
Hubbard did not play in Friday’s game, his third preseason game he watched from the sidelines. The Panthers’ starting back has been still dealing with a hamstring injury that has forced him to be week-to-week. It’s still unknown if he will actually make it back in time for Week 1, but it’s all but certain we won’t see him until the regular season opens.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales did not play the starters in last year’s preseason finale, so the next time Brooks takes the field could very well be Week 1 against the Chicago Bears as well. That matchup would represent the real test for Brooks, even if Hubbard manages to return in time and suit up.
Through two preseason games, Brooks has had very limited usage. It’s a completely different situation compared to playing all four quarters of a regular season game. So, the next time we likely see Brooks in action, it’ll be telling to see how well he actually looks over the course of a full game and if the Panthers are actually ready to set him free.
But, for the time being, Brooks should enjoy today’s moment. It was a major milestone to see him to finally find his way into the end zone again, and for the first time in a Panthers’ uniform. I’m with Hubbard, we’re all certain it’s the first of many more to come.
