The NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports the Panthers have expectations of Jonathon Brooks “potentially being the lead back over Chuba Hubbard.”

08 June 2026

Wolfe made the obvious caveat that Brooks needed to be healthy for this to have any chance of happening. Brooks entered the league recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during his final season at Texas. He then tore the same ACL in just his third career game, causing him to miss all of the 2025 season. When the Panthers selected Brooks with the No. 46 pick in 2024, he certainly had the potential to take over the backfield by the end of his rookie season. It remains to be seen how much of a toll the knee injuries have taken on Brooks’ abilities, but the drumbeat surrounding his return to football is growing louder by the day. Brooks will likely be one of the hottest backup running backs in fantasy circles by the time training camp rolls around.