Panthers may be planning to unlock RB Jonathon Brooks' receiving prowess

Outside the development of quarterback Bryce Young, the biggest question facing the Carolina Panthers‘ 2026 offense sits in their running back room. For now, Chuba Hubbard is still slated to be their starter in the backfield, but there’s been a lot of buzz about Jonathon Brooks potentially taking his place in the lineup.

One way that Brooks can take the reins atop the depth chart is to prove that he’s a better option on third down—long a weakness in the game of Hubbard, who is known for spending extra time on the jugs machine after practice. That practice, sadly, hasn’t added up to much production as a pass catcher—as he’s never totaled more than 233 receiving yards in a season.

It sounds like the Panthers are planning to use Brooks more in this role, per team reporter Kassidy Hill:

He’s tested his pass-catching ability again, working on a lot of screens and wheel routes as the Panthers learn all the different ways they can use this versatile piece. It was something he did in college at Texas as well, pulling in 25 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown in his final season with the Longhorns. It’s an aspect of his game that coach Dave Canales has been excited about for a while.

He’s tested his pass-catching ability again, working on a lot of screens and wheel routes as the Panthers learn all the different ways they can use this versatile piece. It was something he did in college at Texas as well, pulling in 25 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown in his final season with the Longhorns. It’s an aspect of his game that coach Dave Canales has been excited about for a while.

Brooks still has to prove he can stay healthy for an entire campaign. The 2024 second-round pick has been limited to just three games over his two-year NFL career due to a pair of ACL tears.

But if Brooks can stay on the field, it shouldn’t take too long for him to jump Hubbard in the pecking order.

While lacking in experience compared to Hubbard, one thing we do know about Brooks’ game is that he has superior size and athleticism—which should help him add on critical yards after the catch.

Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.