Brooks' medical outlook improved per expert; 20 months post-second ACL tear; Jamal Charles comp.

One the source joked that everyone else has caught up to a name he's been championing for a while. The presumed incumbent starter opened last season as the lead back but got benched in favor of a free-agent addition after six starts, posting double-digit carries in just one of his final nine games—a clear sign the job isn't fully secured. Brooks tore the same ACL twice within about 13 months, a real red flag for many investors, but it's now been roughly 20 months since the second tear, and the team has expressed real confidence that the second surgical reconstruction went far better than the first. He was only a one-year starter in college, but that lone season was outstanding, close to 1,400 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in 11 games, production that drew a stylistic comparison to Jamal Charles from national draft media. If he wins the job, he'd anchor an offense that has consistently tried to protect its starting quarterback by leaning on the run, throwing 25 or fewer passes in half of last year's starts. One the source has moved up significantly on Brooks after a conversation with a medical expert who was specifically positive about his 2026 outlook, while flagging the repeat-surgery history as a fair long-term dynasty concern. Estimated trade value currently sits around a 2027 second-round rookie pick.

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