FOOTBALL

Knee injury will sideline Texas running back Jonathon Brooks for remainder of the season

Austin American-Statesman

Texas running back Jonathon Brooks will miss the rest of the season, the school announced on Sunday.

In the fourth quarter of Saturday night's 29-26 win at TCU, Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while running for a first down. He had to crawl to the sideline after being tackled by TCU's Mark Perry and was later assisted to the locker room by a Texas staffer.

The injury puts an abrupt end to a breakout season for Brooks, a third-year product out of Hallettsville who patiently sat for two seasons behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Over UT's 10 games, Brooks ran 187 times for 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He also turned 25 receptions into 286 yards and an additional score.

Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) is pulled down by TCU Horned Frogs safety Mark Perry (3) late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, November. 11, 2023, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) did not return to the game after lipping off the field. Texas Longhorns won 29-26 over TCU Horned Frogs.

Brooks ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards. His 1,139 yards this season are the 14th-most in school history.

“We’re heartbroken for Jonathon,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement. “He was having a fantastic season and leaves a void that needs to be filled. But we know he will continue to be an invaluable leader on our team, helping us prepare as we move forward in our mission this season. I know he’ll work extremely hard in his recovery, get back to full speed as soon as he can, and we will be there by his side supporting him through all of that.”

Sunday’s announcement was made almost two years to the day that Robinson's sophomore season was ended by a dislocated elbow. Through 10 games that season, he had turned 195 rushing attempts into 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Texas running back Jonathon Brooks runs for a first down in the first quarter of Saturday night's 29-26 win over TCU. His season, however, is over. It was revealed on Sunday that Brooks suffered a torn ACL injury in the fourth quarter.

Two years ago, Texas turned to Johnson to lead its backfield after Robinson’s injury. The Longhorns finished that season with a 5-7 record.

This time around, the stakes are higher for Texas as it attempts to replace a player who had accounted for 31% of its offense. CJ Baxter has run for 390 yards and three touchdowns, but the freshman has battled injuries issues of his own after opening this season as the starter. Senior Keilan Robinson and sophomore Jaydon Blue are two other names to know on the depth chart.

Listed seventh in the College Football Playoff rankings, Texas is alone in first place in the Big 12 standings. Texas last won a conference championship in 2009.

The Longhorns (9-1, 6-1) will travel to Iowa State (6-4, 5-2) this weekend before closing out the regular season with a home game against Texas Tech (5-5, 4-3) on Nov. 24. Allowing 124.7 yards per game, Iowa State boasts the Big 12's third-best rushing defense. Texas Tech ranks sixth in the 14-team conference at 147.2 yards per game.