Hubbard has jumped up the Panthers' depth chart following word that McCaffrey is expected to miss multiple games due to a hamstring strain, Adam Maya of NFL.com reports.
McCaffrey was forced from Thursday's eventual win at Houston early in the second quarter, and Hubbard took on most of the backfield work thereafter. By the end of the game, Hubbard logged 40 of 73 offensive snaps (55 percent), while reserve Royce Freeman got on the field for 11 (15 percent). Hubbard was the clear beneficiary in terms of production, as he recorded 11 rushes for 52 yards (4.7 YPC) and caught three of five targets for 27 yards. Meanwhile, Freeman managed 25 total yards on six touches. As long as McCaffrey is sidelined, Hubbard should be Carolina's primary back, with Freeman mixing in on occasion. Meanwhile, Rodney Smith and Spencer Brown are the running backs on the practice squad, and the Panthers already have worked out veteran RB Duke Johnson.