The Carolina Panthers’ backfield picture already had a few moving parts, and now it has another one.
Chuba Hubbard is dealing with a hamstring injury and is now considered week-to-week, according to Mike Kaye of ESPN. The update comes before the Panthers’ first preseason game following the Hall of Fame game, and it puts Hubbard’s availability squarely in focus as September gets closer.
"Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard has a hamstring injury. He's week-to-week, per Dave Canales," Kaye reports.
That’s not the kind of news Carolina wanted to hear about a player expected to play a major role in the offense. Hubbard now appears likely to miss time, at least in the short term, which creates some uncertainty around how the Panthers will manage the position group over the next month.
There is, however, a more encouraging note in the mix. Panthers beat writer Sheena Quick reports that Hubbard is expected to be ready for Week 1 of the NFL regular season, which is one month from the day the injury was revealed.
That still leaves a window for Jonathon Brooks to make noise. With Hubbard banged up and likely out for a stretch, Brooks has a chance to show what he can do in preseason and possibly carve out a larger role early in the year.
Hubbard’s 2024 season was already shaped by missed time. He finished with 511 rushing yards and one touchdown on 134 carries, while Rico Dowdle handled most of the backfield work.
Now, with Brooks returning from his own serious injury, Carolina could be looking at a real opening for the 27-year-old to step forward while Hubbard sits out much of, if not all of, the preseason.
For the moment, though, Hubbard’s hamstring is the story. He’s week-to-week, and the Panthers will be watching his status closely as the regular season approaches.
In Other News...
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That possibility is where the intrigue starts. ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Panthers could explore using King as a dynamic threat in the backfield or from the slot, which would put his skill set in a very different lane from a standard backup quarterback role. If Carolina goes that direction, it could mean more hybrid formations and more pressure on defenses to account for King as a runner or receiver, leaving the bigger question of how far the Panthers are willing to reshape the offense around that idea. [Read more 🡒]
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Panthers Give Bryce Young Another Proven Weapon For NFC Push
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For a team looking ahead to the 2026 season, this is the kind of addition that can matter in more ways than one. The Panthers have spent plenty of time trying to give Young a steadier set of options, and Waller brings a track record that should make him an immediate focal point in that effort. The real question now is how quickly Carolina can turn this into a more productive and more flexible attack. [Read more 🡒]