The million-dollar question for the Carolina Panthers this week is: who is going to start at running back between Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard?
Hubbard, who has been the team's starter the past two years, is officially off the injury report and good to go this week after sitting out the last two games. The Panthers veteran logged his first limited practice on Friday.
However, his backfield mate, Dowdle, has been on a historic heater the last two weeks with a staggering 437 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in that span and many rightly believe he should keep getting the rock over Hubbard upon his return.
If Rico Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard starting?
There is still no concrete answer to this question, as head coach Dave Canales has refused to give a direct answer for a few weeks now.
When asked about the situation after practice, Canales said the team has made a decision but wouldn't say what it was for competitive advantage purposes.
However, ESPN's David Newton provided some insight and speculates that it could be Dowdle because Hubbard was limited on Wednesday and Thursday before he returned to a full practice on Friday.
"Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters the staff has determined who will start and get most of the reps between Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, who has been cleared to play, but he isn't revealing the decision publicly," Newton reported on Friday. "Trying to keep a competitive advantage."
"Hubbard was limited Wednesday and Thursday before a full practice on Friday, so that could indicate it's Dowdle," Newton added.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported during the week that "both players will get their touches regardless of who gets the first snap," so a 50/50 split, or something close to it, remains the most likely scenario here.
That said, Carolina does have an out to give Dowdle the vast majority of the work for another week to see how things shake out.
The Panthers can simply say they were easing Hubbard back in after a two-game absence to sidestep controversy. Then, if Dowdle struggles, they can go back to their usual approach or more of an even split between the backs.
If we had to put money on it, we believe Fowler's report is the way things will go down between Dowdle and Hubbard.
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