Via 4 video games in 2025, the Carolina Panthers are 1-3. The staff is coming off a 42-13 loss in Week 4 to the New England Patriots. For Week 5, the Panthers are at residence to face the Miami Dolphins.Â
Of their matchup for this Sunday, Carolina might be with out beginning RB Chuba Hubbard. The 26-year-old has been dominated out attributable to a calf harm. Panthers’ backup Rico Dowdle will get the beginning in Week 5 vs. Miami. Chuba Hubbard had been restricted at apply on Wednesday and Thursday earlier than being dominated out on Friday afternoon.
Carolina might be with out RB Chuba Hubbard in Week 5
Panthers formally dominated out RB Chuba Hubbard for Sunday’s recreation versus the Dolphins attributable to his calf harm.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2025
With a fourth-round decide within the 2021 NFL draft, the Panthers chosen Chuba Hubbard out of Oklahoma State. The 2025 season is his fifth yr with the Panthers. Hubbard has appeared in 68 video games and made 43 begins. He’s been a full-time starter in every of his final two seasons. Final November, Carolina signed Chuba Hubbard to a three-year, $33.2 million extension. That got here with $15 million guarenteed. Throughout his 2024 marketing campaign, Hubbard rushed for 1,195 yards and 10 speeding touchdowns. He added 43 catches for 171 yards and one receiving landing.
Via 4 video games in 2025, Chuba Hubbard is off to a sluggish begin for the Panthers. In 2024, he averaged a career-high 79.7 yards per recreation. That quantity has dropped to 54.3 yards per recreation in 2025. In 4 begins this season, Hubbard has carried the ball 53 occasions for 217 yards. On Friday, October 3, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Chuba Hubbard won’t play in Week 5. He’s coping with a calf harm.
#Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard, who has been coping with a calf harm the final couple of weeks and hasn’t practiced this week, is predicted to overlook Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the #Dolphins, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Rico Dowdle is the staff’s backup. pic.twitter.com/alRA3uQaQV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2025
Whereas Chuba Hubbard is out in Week 5, the Panthers will flip to backup Rico Dowdle. He signed a one-year, $3 million cope with Carolina. His deal is price $6.5 million if he reaches incentives. The 27-year-old RB is in his fifth skilled season. Dowdle was the beginning RB for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. He performed in 16 of their 17 video games and made 15 begins. The previous undrafted participant rushed for a career-high 1,079 speeding yards.
Together with Rico Dowdle, the Panthers even have rookie RB Trevor Etienne out of Georgia. He’s the youthful brother of Jaguars RB Travis Etienne. The previous Georgia Bulldog was chosen within the fourth spherical by Carolina. Etienne has eight carries in 2025 for 37 yards. He’s principally been used as a return specialist for the Panthers. Trevor Etienne may see extra enjoying time in Week 5 whereas Chuba Hubbard is out.
