Jonathon Brooks suffers heartbreaking non-contact injury and is carted off the field in agony again
Jonathon Brooks is facing yet more time on the sidelines after suffering a non-contact injury to the same knee in which he previously tore his ACL.
Standout rookie running back Brooks is just two games into his much-anticipated comeback from injury, gradually upping his snap count after making his NFL debut on November 24.
The Carolina Panthers star suffered a heartbreaking blow in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles though, going down with the ball in his hands despite not being touched by an opponent.
He appeared to tweak his right knee while trying to cut, and was seen pounding the turf in frustration as medics rushed to his aid.
Brooks was then carted to the locker room and was listed as unlikely to return by the team.
He was only activated from the reserve/non-football injury list at the start of November, a year on from suffering an ACL injury to his right knee while playing for Texas.
Jonathon Brooks clutches his knee after going down on a non-contact play for the Panthers
Brooks was playing in just his third NFL game after suffering an ACL tear in his final college year
Now, though, just nine carries into his NFL career, he is facing further time on the sidelines.
It is just the latest blow for the Panthers in an awful season that sees them sitting with a 3-9 record.
The team won two in a row against the Saints and Giants to begin November with a flourish, but then followed it up with losses to the Chiefs and Bucs, with Brooks playing in both.
Taking to social media, fans shared Brooks' heartbreak, with one writing: 'Let's just pray it's not another ACL.'
Another added: 'Horrible to see.'