Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks' faith has helped him through father's death, 2 torn ACLs
CHARLOTTE, N. C. (AP) — After being cleared to participate in the team’s offseason conditioning program without limitations, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks celebrated in a way he deemed most appropriate: He got baptized.
Brooks has leaned heavily on his faith to get him through personal and professional issues: the death of his father and two serious knee injuries that have derailed the start of a promising NFL career. The Panthers selected Brooks in the second round of the draft in 2024 with an eye toward the speedy, powerful Texas standout developing into their lead back. They believed Brooks would overcome a torn ACL in his right knee that prematurely ended his college career late in the 2023 season.
But after months of rehab, Brooks’ debut in Carolina ended after just three games when he tore his ACL a second time. He missed the rest of his rookie season and all of 2025. After two surgeries and months of grueling rehab, Brooks said Tuesday he is “close to 100%.
” He has rejoined his teammates on the practice field with the expectation that he'll be part of Carolina's running back rotation in 2026. “I’ve been through a lot in my life," the 22-year-old Brooks said. “I lost my father.
I’ve torn my ACL twice. Every single time I reverted back to my faith and for me, my baptism was a recommitment of my faith — to not only change myself, but from that day forward to stop making excuses for my surroundings. ” Brooks said he has always believed in and followed God.