Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has been sidelined for each of the past two games due to a calf injury.
Hubbard initially played through the injury but later succumbed to it, which led to his absence. In his stead, Rico Dowdle has gone nuclear and now there are questions about Hubbard's role as the lead back.
While it remains to be seen how that shakes out, there was a positive injury update on Hubbard at Panthers practice on Wednesday.
Here's the latest.
Chuba Hubbard injury update
UPDATE: Hubbard was officially a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.
Head coach Dave Canales said Hubbard "looked awesome."
END OF UPDATE
UPDATE: Hubbard is taking part in drills early on in practice, so it looks like he'll be listed as a limited participant, at worst, on Wednesday.
Chuba Hubbard (calf) is participating in early drills for the #Panthers after missing the last two games.
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 15, 2025
We'll provide another update later when the injury report drops.
END OF UPDATE
According to a photo from ESPN's David Newton, Hubbard is in uniform and outside at practice on Wednesday, which signals he's set to take part in his first session since his injury.
"Chuba Hubbard (calf) dressed for practice," Newton wrote.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but any semblance of practice participation for Hubbard would mean he's on track to play this week.
We'll know more when the Panthers drop their first injury report soon. This page will be updated when that happens.
Hubbard did manage to get some work in on a side field last week, but he was not dressed in uniform while doing so and was officially a non-participant.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales has not said if Hubbard will now play second fiddle after Dowdle went off for 473 scrimmage yards in two games, contests the Panthers won.
"We'll see," Canales said when asked if Dowdle would assume the lead role over Hubbard.
While Canales stays guarded, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the expectation is both players are going to get their touches, so it looks like they're headed for an even split moving forward.
"While Dowdle has earned a prominent role, I'm told the Panthers are taking the approach that both players will get their touches regardless of who gets the first snap. Both fit the Panthers' tough-minded, grind-it-out mold," Fowler wrote.
The Panthers were never going to abandon Hubbard, especially after signing him to a $32 million extension in 2024. However, Dowdle did more than enough to take full control of the backfield, something it doesn't look like he's going to get.
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