Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks to undergo surgery

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks will undergo core muscle surgery and land on injured reserve, a league source told UPI on Wednesday.

Brooks was hurt in the fourth quarter of 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta. The third-year running back totaled 11 touches for 73 yards from scrimmage through two games this season.

He was limited in practice this week due to a groin injury.

Brooks, who is expected to miss at least six weeks of action, played 30% of the offensive snaps in Week 2. Starter Chuba Hubbard was in for 65% of the snaps. Third-string running back A.J. Dillon played just 6% of the offensive snaps and was in for 12% of the special teams snaps.

Hubbard was in for 71% of the offensive snaps in Week 1, compared to Brooks' 19% share. Dillon played for 10% of the snaps in the Panthers' season opener, a 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears.

Hubbard totaled 151 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns through the Panthers' first two games of 2026. Ahmani Marshall and Anthony Tyus III are the Panthers' practice squad running backs.

The Panthers (1-1) will face the Cleveland Browns (1-1) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Cleveland.