Rookie running back Jonathon Brooks thought he would be ready at the start of the Carolina Panthers training camp. 

That didn't happen. Reports suggest he is still weeks away from even being close to competing in contact practices. However, he hasn't used his time rehabbing a knee injury he sustained in his final college season to dwell on the negative. Instead, he's used the extra time to attack his top priority: Learning the playbook. 

"Honestly, my main focus, it was learning the playbook. So classroom work and then, really just getting my knee right so I can get back on time, on schedule. Just trying to make sure my knee is healed as the best as it can," Brooks said to Kassidy Hill, a writer for the Panthers' official team website. 

"Just been studying a lot, going over it, getting with the older vets in the room and really just picking off of their brain, how they remember stuff. And I have my own way for remembering plays too. Just key words with key words. Just a lot of stuff tells you what it is in a sense. I've kind of had the strategy since college. It was the same kind of offense that we were ran in college. We ran a Pro-style offense in Texas. So, it was a lot easier for me to remember."

The Panthers knew Brooks would be dealing with an injury when the team drafted him in the second round. 

He has progressed as Carolina expected. In early August, Panthers head coach Dave Canales offered an update on Brooks' rehab. 

“He’s doing great," Canales said. "I saw him running out a little bit before practice. They have a progression on him. He feels stronger and stronger every day."

During that update, he echoed a similar sentiment as to what Brooks was doing during his time away from the field. 

“He’s really focused and he’s into what we’re doing. Mentally, with our walkthroughs, just watching," Canales said. "And in the classroom and stuff, he’s been really attentive that way. So I’m happy about what he’s doing there. And then physically, this is a guy that really can make an impact for us. So, again, wanna be really smart about when we bring him back in.”

When healthy, Brooks exemplifies versatility. In his final season with the Longhorns, Brooks was named second-team All-Big 12 Conference. He was the leading rusher with 1,139 rushing yards (187 carries, 6.1 yards per carry) and 10 rushing touchdowns.

However, he first has to get there.