Jonathon Brooks finally got his moment.
The Carolina Panthers running back scored the first touchdown of his NFL career Friday night, finishing off a seven-play, 58-yard opening drive with a 1-yard run in Carolina’s 34-17 preseason win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. After crossing the goal line, Brooks touched the tattoo on his arm honoring his late father, James “Skip” Brooks, and then pointed toward the sky.
For Brooks, the touchdown was about a lot more than the scoreboard. It marked the end of a long road back to a football field after two ACL tears.
Carolina selected Brooks 46th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after trading up for him following a 1,139-yard, 10-touchdown season at Texas. He was already working his way back from an ACL injury suffered in his final college season when the Panthers drafted him.
He got into three games late in his rookie year, then tore the same knee again, which ended that season and wiped out his entire 2025 campaign as well. Sports Illustrated reported that Carolina placed him on the PUP list that September, and he did not play a single snap that year.
Friday was only his second game back. He had logged four snaps for 14 yards in the preseason opener against Buffalo, according to NBC Sports. Against Jacksonville, with Chuba Hubbard ruled out and the Panthers short-handed at running back, Brooks opened with the first-team offense.
He made that chance count. On Carolina’s second drive, with 7:34 left in the first quarter, Brooks took the handoff from a yard out and powered in for the score - his first in a regular-season or preseason NFL game, per the Jaguars’ own game report. He finished with five carries for 18 yards.
Afterward, Brooks said the touchdown meant plenty, even if it won’t matter in the record books. ClutchPoints reported that he called it “pretty amazing” and pointed to his faith and the rehab process that brought him back.
“I know it doesn’t really count for the books, but for me, it’s everything,” Brooks said. “It’s something that me and my father have talked about since I was younger.”
Panthers.com reported that Brooks’ mother was in the stands for the moment, which only added to the significance of the play.
The Panthers also got a boost from the offensive line. Starting guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt returned after missing the previous preseason game with injuries, and along with right tackle Monroe Freeling, they helped create room for Brooks, including an 11-yard run on the same drive.
Brooks did have one rough spot early. On Carolina’s first possession, he missed a pass-protection assignment that led to Bryce Young taking a hit on an incompletion. He answered a couple of drives later with the touchdown.
Carolina was up only 7-3 after the first quarter, then took control by outscoring Jacksonville 27-14 the rest of the way. Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask all played quarterback.
A.J. Dillon added a rushing touchdown on five carries, while Casey Washington and Roc Taylor each caught touchdown passes.
The Panthers were missing four defensive starters - Derrick Brown, Jaycee Horn, Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips - and wide receiver Xavier Legette was held out as a precaution after being rolled up on in Wednesday’s joint practice. Even so, Carolina pulled away once the second quarter got going.
The Panthers finish their preseason at home against the Houston Texans on Aug. 28. For Brooks, the touchdown won’t show up when the games start counting, but after two ACL tears and a season lost to rehab, getting back to the end zone was the whole point.
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