North Charlotte Today

Jonathon Brooks, a player for the Carolina Panthers, is beginning his second rehabilitation after tearing his ACL again. Thirteen months ago, he suffered a similar injury while playing for Texas and spent nearly a year recovering. Unfortunately, after only two-and-a-half games with the Panthers, Brooks re-injured the same ACL during an outside run.

"The first couple of days is a little rough," Brooks said on Thursday. "But then you just have to trust God's plan and know that He's doing this for a reason and that it's a brighter side on the other end." He emphasized his previous experience with ACL rehab as beneficial: "I've been through it before," he stated. "So, I know from experience what to do and what not to do."

Brooks has not yet scheduled surgery, as he waits for swelling to subside. The typical recovery timeline for an ACL injury ranges from 9-12 months. When asked if the initial injury contributed to the recent one, Brooks refrained from speculation: "I feel like if anybody is as healthy as they can be, it's possible for anybody to tear the ACL off from any kind of plant."

He acknowledged support from teammates, family, coaches, and former Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis during this challenging time. Despite his injury, Brooks remains actively involved with the team by attending practices and engaging with fellow players like Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear.

"I'm still a part of a team," Brooks explained. "These are my brothers...for me to sit in here and mope about my own injury, I feel like that would be selfish." He continues to focus on learning plays and schemes while maintaining team spirit.