Coach Dave Canales confirms Chuba Hubbard is week-to-week with a "legit" injury, leaving the Carolina Panthers backfield shorthanded as Jonathan Brooks prepares for his preseason debut.
The Carolina Panthers seem less optimistic about a running back before their second preseason game on the road against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.
The Panthers had two running backs dealing with complications from injury this summer. Jonathan Brooks, a second-round pick in 2024, is coming off back-to-back ACL surgeries on his right knee. Chuba Hubbard is dealing with a hamstring issue in camp.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales provided an update on Hubbard on Thursday. He said the running back has a hamstring injury and is week-to-week with the issue. Carolina hopes he can return before its Week 1 opener against the Chicago Bears.
"We're on it," Canales said, via video from Joe Person of The Athletic. "He got a hamstring. It’s a legit hamstring. It's week to week right now, the way we see it. So we're going to get him in (return to participation protocol).
"We're going to get him some treatment. Very confident he'll be ready for game one. Trying to get him out there sooner than that. But again, we'll be smart about it. We'll get him back at the appropriate time."
Hubbard was the Panthers’ second-leading rusher last year with 511 yards and one touchdown on 134 carries. Rico Dowdle led Carolina with 1,076 yards and six touchdowns before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
Canales planned to play his starters against the Bills on Saturday. He told reporters on Wednesday that he intended to play Brooks and Hubbard.
"He's in great shape; he's ready to rock -- he's ready to play football," he said. "That's just the next part of it, and he'll play with the first group. He'll mix in and out with Chuba and we'll be able to get a good look at those guys with a couple of drives.
"He'll mix in and out with Chuba Hubbard, and we'll be able to get a good look at those guys with a couple of drives."
In the Panthers’ 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, Miles Davis led the Panthers in rushing with 53 yards on four carries. AJ Dillon rushed three times for 18 yards and a score. Rookie Anthony Tyus III ran eight times for 19 yards.
