Panthers Announce Big Jonathon Brooks Injury News After Week 14 Loss

The Carolina Panthers are going to feel the sting of their Week 14 loss for a while. Not only did the team have a game-winning touchdown dropped in the final seconds, but Carolina saw prized rookie running back Jonathon Brooks go down with a scary-looking, non-contact injury early on in Sunday's contest.

The fact the Panthers playmaker couldn't get off of the field on his own, and required a cart back to the locker room, has many worried, especially since the issue involves the same knee Brooks just rehabbed following an ACL tear in college.

After the game, head coach Dave Canales provided the first update on the 21-year-old.

Canales told reporters after falling to the Philadelphia Eagles that Brooks is experiencing some pain in his knee. He added the team needs to run several tests and gather "a bunch of information" before making any calls on his status, however.

Now, this could just be Carolina playing its cards to its chest. Many franchises don't give more injury info that they're required to.

However, there's also been cases where teams outright say the fear is of a major ailment. The fact the Panthers aren't stating anything in that regard right away could be viewed as a potentially positive sign.

That being said, the possible outcomes don't look good for the rookie. He wasn't touched on the play, the injury occurred while trying to make a cut, and it involves the same knee he just suffered a major injury in. Those are often hallmarks of another serious ailment.

All ears now in the upcoming days will be on updates regarding Brooks' immediate and long-term health. It's an absolute shame the former Longhorns standout already had a less-than-ideal start to his NFL career, and he's now staring down the barrel of another potential health problem.

Yet, Brooks has shown incredible resilience to get back on the field since his ACL tear. If he's in a similar situation again, expect him to attack his rehab.

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