Fantasy Alert: Jonathon Brooks in 'Final Stages' of Injury Rehab, Panthers HC Says

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that rookie running back Jonathon Brooks is in the "final stages" of his recovery from a torn ACL.

Brooks, who injured his knee last November, is required to miss the first four games of the 2024 NFL season because the Panthers kept him on the non-football injury list to open the year.

The earliest Brooks can suit up is Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Based on Canales' update, perhaps he'll be healthy enough to play then or can get on the field in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Carolina used a second-round pick on the former Texas star, which is pretty high for a running back these days and especially one coming off a torn ACL. The investment spoke to the franchise's long-term belief in the value of a player who ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior in 2023.

A lot of fantasy football managers share that assessment. Brooks is rostered in 65 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues and had an average draft position of 37th among running backs.

Because of how much the ACL disrupted his offseason preparations, the Panthers might ease the first-year back into a high-usage role once he's cleared to play. Chuba Hubbard has also been effective over their last two games, combining to run for 178 yards on 31 carries.

Still, those who stashed Brooks away on their fantasy bench might soon begin to see some returns.