Jonathon Brooks heads to injured reserve, putting Chuba Hubbard back at the center of Carolina's backfield

The Carolina Panthers placed Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve Wednesday after a core-muscle injury, removing the second-year back from at least the next four games and sending him toward surgery. NFL Network reported the expected recovery at six weeks or more. The Panthers' own roster announcement confirmed the IR move and said safety Isaiah Simmons was promoted from the practice squad to fill the roster spot.

Brooks left Sunday's win over Atlanta after re-aggravating a groin problem that had bothered him between the preseason and Week 1. Carolina had hoped his return from previous knee trouble would give the backfield a second featured option beside Chuba Hubbard. Through two games, Brooks had 11 touches for 73 yards, according to NFL.com. The sample was small, but his availability was part of the Panthers' plan for managing Hubbard's workload.

With Brooks out, Hubbard becomes the clearest RSO transaction and lineup priority. NFL.com reported that veteran AJ Dillon is next in the depth chart and that Carolina is working out Austin Ekeler, who last played two games in 2025 before an Achilles tear. Ekeler's workout is not a signing, so managers should treat him as a watch-list name rather than a confirmed Panthers contributor. Dillon is the safer immediate handcuff while the club decides whether to add another veteran.

The move carries a second roster implication for Carolina. Simmons had been elevated for both games this season but missed the initial 53-man roster because of numbers, and the Panthers said his special-teams value helped make him the choice to fill the opening. Linebacker Maema Njongmeta was also brought back to the practice squad after the club lost Claudin Cherelus to a shoulder injury Sunday.

Brooks should remain on dynasty rosters because the timetable is measured in weeks and the team has not closed the door on a later-season return. His recurring availability problems make Hubbard's workload more valuable now, though the Panthers' 34-3 win over Atlanta also produced a manageable game script that may not repeat. RSO managers should hold the injured player, secure Hubbard where possible and wait for the Ekeler workout to become a contract before assigning it fantasy value.