The Panthers may be headed toward a true one-two punch in the backfield, and that’s the picture one recent survey seems to be painting for Carolina’s running game.
Chuba Hubbard remains the steady hand. Drafted 126th overall in 2021, he has grown into one of the most reliable and recognizable players on the roster. Hubbard sits fifth on the Panthers’ all-time rushing list with 3,686 yards, roughly 300 behind Christian McCaffrey in fourth and about 300 ahead of Deshaun Foster in sixth.
Jonathon Brooks is the other half of the equation, even if his NFL résumé is still tiny. Carolina made the aggressive move to trade up for him in the 2024 NFL Draft, taking him 46th overall while he was injured. Brooks is currently tied for 91st all-time in franchise rushing yards with 22, alongside Panthers greats Derek Anderson, Vinny Testaverde, Tony Fiametta, and Will Grier.
Of course, the numbers only tell part of the story. Brooks’ rookie season was derailed by another torn ACL, and that had nothing to do with him or Dan Morgan. The encouraging part for Carolina is that all reports have Brooks healthy and ready to work his way back into a full season’s load.
The bigger takeaway from the survey wasn’t just about who finishes with the most yards. It also hinted at how the Panthers might want to divide the workload: a more balanced backfield, with both runners playing meaningful roles.
That kind of setup would be a shift for Carolina, which hasn’t really had a true split backfield since the Deangelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart days. Williams finished as the team’s second all-time rushing leader, while Stewart still sits first. Maybe this is the season the Panthers get back to that kind of arrangement.
In Other News...
Former Panthers Insider Just Sent A Strong Bryce Young Message
Bryce Youngs next chapter in Carolina is drawing plenty of attention, and one former Panthers voice thinks the setup around him is better than it has been in a while. Marty Hurney, who once ran the franchises front office, sounded upbeat in a recent interview about Young and the direction of the offense, pointing to Dave Canales confidence in the quarterbacks skill set and the improved roster around him.
For Young, the timing matters. He is entering his fourth season with real pressure to show he can be the long-term answer and put himself in position for a contract extension, and the Panthers are hoping the stability of Canales system helps bring out more consistency. Hurney also mentioned Jonathon Brooks as part of the broader optimism, another sign that Carolina sees more upside on offense than it has had in recent years. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Defense Still Has One Problem At Nearly Every Level
The Panthers made real progress on defense last season, climbing from the bottom of the league to the middle of the pack in total defense, but the unit still has a lot of sorting out to do before training camp. The front is the clearest example: Derrick Brown remains the anchor, yet Carolina may need meaningful help around him after A'Shawn Robinsons release and Tershawn Whartons neck injury left the group thinner than it looked a few months ago.
There are similar questions just about everywhere else. Jaelan Phillips gives the outside linebacker room a boost, but the depth behind him is still being evaluated, Trevin Wallace is under pressure to hold his spot at inside linebacker behind Devin Lloyd, and the slot cornerback job is open enough to keep the competition alive. Even at safety, there is still a sense that the Panthers are looking for the right fit, which is why this defense feels improved but not quite settled. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Need A Bigger Backfield Swing Than Fans Expected
As the Panthers look ahead to 2026, the running game remains one of the clearest areas where a roster upgrade could change the conversation. The idea gaining traction is not a minor depth move, either, but the kind of backfield swing that would signal Carolina wants more proven production and a more reliable weekly threat on offense.
The speculation centers on whether New Orleans would ever even entertain moving a veteran runner to a division rival, which already makes the whole discussion feel remote. Still, the fit is easy to understand from Carolinas side: the Panthers need answers in the backfield, and any pursuit of a trade would come with the larger question of whether the Saints would be willing to help a team they see twice a year. [Read more 🡒]