JonathonBrooks

News: 2 hours agoCoach Dave Canales said Monday that the Panthers plan to open the 21-day window for Brooks (knee) to return to practice, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Spin: Brooks has yet to make his NFL debut as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered during his final season at Texas, but that injury didn't preclude the Panthers from drafting him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Once the team officially designates Brooks to return from the non-football injury list, the Panthers will have 21 days from that point to put him on the active roster. Chuba Hubbard has thrived as the team's lead back early in the 2024 campaign, racking up 485 rushing yards through six games.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: The Panthers took Brooks with the 46th pick in the 2024 draft and he'll join a crowded backfield in Carolina that already includes Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. He is coming off an ACL injury suffered in November and will miss at least the first four games of his rookie season, but he could quickly emerge as the lead back given his ability to slash and create big plays. Add in the fact he's a gifted receiver out of the backfield and he looks like a three-down back in an NFL offense. While this could end up as a textbook backfield by committee situation, Brooks is good enough to to emerge as a fantasy force as a rookie. Target Brooks in the later rounds in redraft leagues this season and stash him on your IR.