The injury bug has come for Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks once again to start 2026.
Brooks is dealing with a groin injury after aggravating an ailment he's been dealing with since training camp. Tom Pelissero of Netflix and The Ringer reported on Monday, Sept. 21 that the Panthers' third-year back "is considered week-to-week" with the injury.
The Panthers had previously classified Brooks' groin injury as "soreness" as he worked through it in the late summer. He was a limited participant in some practices leading into Week 1, but he cleared the injury report with no designation in time to play in the Panthers' opener against the Chicago Bears.
Brooks' early career has been marred by various injuries so far. An ACL tear he sustained
in his final year of college kept the second-round pick out until Week 12 of his rookie season. Three weeks later, he re-tore the same ACL and missed the remainder of that year and all of 2025.
The Panthers' young playmaker is back on the injury report two games into 2026. Here's what we know:
Jonathon Brooks injury update
Brooks is week-to-week with a groin injury, according to Pelissero.
The Panthers' young running back left his team's Week 2 win over the Atlanta Falcons early and eventually walked back to the locker room with trainers. He was ruled questionable to return and ultimately missed the rest of the game.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Monday, Sept. 21 that Brooks underwent tests on his injury. Pelissero reported the "week-to-week" classification later in the day and added that Brooks was getting a second opinion on the ailment.
Brooks had been dealing with a groin issue since training camp, which limited him in a couple of practices ahead of Week 1. By the end of the week leading into the Panthers' season opener against the Bears, the running back was a full participant in practice and cleared to play.
It only took one more week for Brooks to re-aggravate the malady that the Panthers previously called "soreness," and he may miss some time with the groin injury.
Panthers RB depth chart
- Chuba Hubbard
- Jonathon Brooks (doubtful – groin)
- AJ Dillon
- Trevor Etienne (IR – ankle)
Brooks may be sidelined with his groin injury, but the Panthers still have lead running back Hubbard healthy. Even before Brooks' ailment, Hubbard was vastly out-touching his backup with 12 carries and two passing targets to Brooks' five carries and one target.
Dillon, the veteran who began his career with the Packers, will slide up the depth chart to back up Hubbard if Brooks misses time as expected. The seventh-year veteran has eight carries for 25 yards so far this season.
Etienne was the Panthers' fourth-round pick last year and served as their third-string running back. Carolina placed him on injured reserve on Aug. 30, so he won't be eligible to return until his team's fifth game: Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a Week 5 bye.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Jonathon Brooks? Panthers RB injury update
