Jonathon Brooks got his first on-field work since Week 14 of 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 15, and the Carolina Panthers kept him involved well into the second quarter of their preseason debut against the Bills.
Brooks handled four touches on nine first-offense snaps, finishing with three carries for 5 yards and one catch for 9 yards. For the Panthers, that was the main goal: get Brooks in, see what he could do with the ball and start measuring where he fits after a long layoff.
Why Brooks was back in the mix
Brooks was starting because Chuba Hubbard was sidelined, giving Carolina a chance to use him in a more extended role. That mattered because Brooks missed all of the 2025 season after a second torn ACL suffered during his rookie year against the Eagles.
His debut did not need to be flashy. It needed to happen. After missing that much time, simply getting Brooks through a preseason game and into the second quarter is an important checkpoint for both the player and the team.
What it means for Carolina
The Panthers now have a first look at how Brooks looks with real game action again, and that helps shape the backfield conversation moving forward. How the Panthers decide to use him next will depend on health, workload and how he responds after this first test.
For now, Brooks in preseason action is the story. The next step is seeing whether he can build on it and give Carolina another option behind Chuba Hubbard.
