Hubbard (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas.
Hubbard missed every practice for a second straight week, leaving Rico Dowdle as the leader of Carolina's backfield after his 206-yard rushing performance in last Sunday's win over the Dolphins. Dowdle gets another favorable matchup this coming Sunday, facing his former team in a game that's tied for the second-highest over/under (49.5) of Week 6.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Not working in individual drills
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Hubbard (calf) wasn't taking part in individual drills during the early stages of practice Friday, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.
Hubbard didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, and with the running back trending toward another DNP on Friday, David Newton of ESPN.com notes that it doesn't look promising with regard to Hubbard's status for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. If he ends up deemed out for the contest, the stage would be set for Rico Dowdle to work as Carolina's lead back versus his former team.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Remains idle for practice
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Hubbard (calf) didn't practice Thursday.
Hubbard has now sat out five consecutive Panthers practices due to the calf issue, and unless he's able to end the trend and take part in Friday's session in some capacity, he looks set to miss a second consecutive game this Sunday against the Cowboys. His potential absence would clear the way for Rico Dowdle to get another turn as Carolina's lead back, after Dowdle amassed a career-high 234 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 26 touches in the Panthers' Week 5 win over the Dolphins.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Still not practicing
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Hubbard (calf) didn't practice Wednesday.
Hubbard hasn't practiced since initially showing up on the Panthers' first Week 5 injury report last Wednesday due to a calf issue. On a positive note, he was seen working on the side this Wednesday, per David Newton of ESPN.com, so his health appears to be improving. In the end, though, Hubbard likely will need to mix into drills Thursday and/or Friday in order to have a chance to play Sunday against the Cowboys. With Hubbard out this past Sunday versus the Dolphins, fellow RB Rico Dowdle reeled off 206 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries to go with three catches (on four targets) for 28 yards.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Working on side field Wednesday
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Hubbard (calf) is present at practice Wednesday and working on the side field, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard didn't practice at all en route to being ruled out Week 5 against the Dolphins, and he may be listed as a non-participant again Wednesday if his reps on the side field aren't enough to qualify as 'limited' activity. With Rico Dowdle having gashed Miami to the tune of 206 rushing yards, of course, Carolina has no reason to rush Hubbard back before he's fully healthy. If Hubbard is forced to sit out again during Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys, Dowdle will get another chance to take advantage of a vulnerable opposing defense.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Won't play in Week 5
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Hubbard (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hubbard played through a calf injury this past Sunday in New England but logged a season-low 51 percent snap share in the process. In the wake of that contest, he didn't practice at all this week, signaling that he was trending toward his first absence of the campaign. Rico Dowdle thus lines up to lead Carolina's backfield this weekend, with Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas also on hand for RB reps. Hubbard's next chance to suit up is Sunday, Oct. 12 versus the Cowboys.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Not expected to play Sunday
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Hubbard (calf) is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.
After sitting out practices Wednesday and Thursday, Hubbard is trending toward being unavailable Sunday, an outcome that could be confirmed as soon as Friday, when the Panthers post their final Week 5 injury report. If Hubbard is indeed sidelined versus Miami, Rico Dowdle would likely be in line for a leading role out of the backfield, with Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas also on hand as depth options.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Doesn't practice Thursday
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Hubbard (calf) didn't practice Thursday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Hubbard also tended to a calf injury last week, but he at least was able to be limited in practice Thursday and Friday before taking 13 touches for 69 yards from scrimmage on a season-low 51 percent snap share during a Week 4 loss at New England. With no practice reps to speak of so far this week, he'll have just one more chance to mix into drills Friday before the Panthers potentially provide some insight into his odds to play Sunday against the Dolphins. Rico Dowdle, Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas are the current healthy options in Carolina's backfield.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: No practice Wednesday
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Hubbard (calf) didn't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough.
Hubbard capped last week with two limited practices due to a calf injury before being listed as questionable ahead of a Week 4 matchup with the Patriots. He proceeded to be active but earned a season-low 51 percent snap share on his way to 13 touches for 69 yards from scrimmage. Coach Dave Canales told Steve Reed of the Associated Press on Wednesday that Hubbard requires more time this week to recover from the calf issue and is "day-to-day." As a result, Hubbard's status bears watching as the weekend draws closer to get a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday versus the Dolphins.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Ready to go for Week 4
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Hubbard (calf) is active for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Hubbard was a limited participant in the Panthers' final two practices of Week 4 on account of the calf issue, but despite taking a questionable tag into Sunday, he looks like he'll be ready to handle his usual duties as Carolina's lead back. The 26-year-old has handled snap shares north of 60 percent in each of the Panthers' first three contests and has scored two touchdowns while averaging 80.7 yards from scrimmage on 17.6 touches per game.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: On track to play Week 4
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Hubbard (calf) is expected to play against New England on Sunday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard popped up on Thursday's injury report due to a calf injury, which limited his participation in the last two practices of the week. Hubbard and rookie first-round wideout Tetairoa McMillan (calf) are both expected to play in Sunday's road contest, though their statuses may not be officially known until the Panthers announce their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before their 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Hubbard has opened the 2025 regular season with 43 carries for 168 yards (3.9 YPC) and 10 catches (on 14 targets) for 74 yards and two touchdowns through three games.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Listed as questionable
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Hubbard (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against New England.
The Panthers added Hubbard to their injury report Thursday as a limited participant. He was limited again Friday, suggesting the injury probably isn't serious, although the failure to return to full participation leaves some question about his Week 4 status ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Should Hubbard end up inactive, the Panthers will bump up Rico Dowdle to the starting lineup and Trevor Etienne to the No. 2 role.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Two touches in Saturday's loss
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Hubbard rushed twice for four yards and wasn't targeted in the Panthers' 20-3 preseason loss to the Texans on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers' lead back was out there with his first-unit mates for two series, but Hubbard was sparsely used. That was also the case in the preseason opener against the Browns, as keeping the versatile back healthy for Week 1 is clearly a top priority. Hubbard will share the backfield with Rico Dowdle this coming season, which will likely lead to at least a slight hit to the former's touches, but he should still be in line for a robust role as both runner and receiver.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Brief cameo in preseason opener
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Hubbard gained 10 rushing yards on three carries and failed to catch his only target during Friday's 30-10 preseason loss to the Browns.
The fifth-year running back got the start but handled only a handful of snaps before giving way to Rico Dowdle midway through the first quarter. While the limited usage is a good sign that Hubbard's spot atop the depth chart isn't in any jeopardy, it's still uncertain how coach Dave Canales plans to split the backfield workload this season after the Panthers signed Dowdle in March. Both backs are coming off 1,000-yard campaigns -- Dowdle with Dallas, and Hubbard with Carolina -- but the latter's familiarity with the offense should keep him in the driver's seat for the bigger role come Week 1.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Gets new backup
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The Panthers are signing Rico Dowdle to replace Miles Sanders (free agent) as Hubbard's backup, ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard and Dowdle both were lead backs last year, but there doesn't seem to be any doubt about whose show it will be in 2025, considering the former signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension. Dowdle settled for a one-year deal with a reported base value of $3 million, which suggests NFL teams view him as a backup-caliber player even after he ran for 1,079 yards in Dallas last year. Hubbard is the better pure runner, and generally a superior player, but it is possible he cedes more of the backfield work in 2025 (compared to last season) if Carolina's coaches like Dowdle more than they liked Sanders. There's no indication Hubbard's calf and knee injuries from the end of 2024 will be a problem for the upcoming season, whereas 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks figures to miss significant time after tearing his right ACL for the second time in two years.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Won't need surgery
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Hubbard (calf/knee), who is on IR, won't need any surgery in the offseason, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Hubbard put together a career-best season for the Panthers, rushing for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns on 250 carries while adding 171 yards and one touchdown on 43 receptions. However, the 25-year-old will finish the campaign on IR after suffering a Grade 2 calf strain late in the season. Since Hubbard won't need surgery on either the calf or the knee, he's likely to be ready to play by the start of the 2025 campaign. He's expected to be Carolina's top running back next season after signing a four-year contract extension this November.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Lands on IR
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Hubbard (calf/knee) has been placed on IR by the Panthers, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.
Hubbard, who was limited at practice Friday, was initially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. However, after practice Hubbard noted that he was dealing with some pain, and an MRI Friday night revealed a Grade 2 calf strain. With Hubbard sidelined for Carolina's final two games, Raheem Blackshear, as well as practice squad members Mike Boone and Emani Bailey, are next up for the team's backfield work. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Blackshear and Boone (pending his elevation) are likely to share RB duties versus Tampa Bay.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Expected to land on IR
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The Panthers are expected to place Hubbard -- who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers -- on injured reserve due to a calf and knee injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero report.
Per Pelissero, the injury that is slated to lead to the anticipated roster move is not considered major, but the 4-11 Panthers, who are not in playoff contention, don't want to make it worse. In Hubbard's looming absence for the team's final two games, Raheem Blackshear is on track to see an expanded role, with Mike Boone and Emani Bailey candidates to be elevated from Carolina's practice squad.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Limited by knee injury
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Hubbard practiced in a limited capacity Thursday due to a knee injury.
Hubbard was listed as a non-participant on the Panthers' first Week 17 injury report Wednesday with rest, so it's unclear if his practice restrictions a day later are related to maintenance or indicative of a potential health concern suffered during Thursday's session. Friday's practice report could provide clarity on that front for a running back that's coming off his fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the campaign this past Sunday against the Cardinals.
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Panthers' Chuba Hubbard: Explodes for 165 yards and two TDs
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Hubbard took 25 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns while chipping in four receptions for 13 yards in Sunday's 36-30 overtime win over Arizona.
Hubbard was the hero for Carolina in Sunday's unlikely victory when he ripped off a pair of huge runs on consecutive plays in overtime that culminated in the game-winning score. The breakout fantasy star was coming off of his worst performance since Week 1 (10-32-0 in Week 15), so Sunday's outburst was reassuring for fantasy managers still vying for a championship this season. Hubbard and the Panthers can continue playing the role of spoiler against the Buccaneers next Sunday after successfully knocking the Cardinals out of playoff contention.
