Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
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Carolina Panthers fans, understandably, love Chuba Hubbard. He was a late-round draft pick backup to Christian McCaffrey and then Miles Sanders, eventually forcing Carolina not only to start him but to extend him for a well-deserved $33.2 million. But after that extension, things haven't been great, at least compared to how he played before.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, center, breaks up the middle on a run against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 5, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Dolphins 27-24. JEFF SINER [email protected]
Rico Dowdle, who ran for a career-high 206 yards in last Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins, will start against his former team. Dowdle played five seasons for the Cowboys before signing with the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent.
The Carolina Panthers have a good old-fashioned controversy at the running back position. Chuba Hubbard has been the team's unquestioned starter for a few years
While starter Chuba Hubbard was sidelined on Sunday due to a calf strain, backup Rico Dowdle took the ball and ran with it . . . literally . . . a lot. The sixth-year veteran dashed the Miami Dolphins for a career-high 206 rushing yards and a touchdown in helping lead Carolina to a 27-24 win in Week 5.