Chuba Hubbard Week-to-Week With Hamstring Injury

The Carolina Panthers will be without starting running back Chuba Hubbard for at least some time after he suffered a hamstring injury.

Head coach Dave Canales announced Thursday that Hubbard underwent an MRI and is considered week-to-week. Despite the injury, Carolina is confident that Hubbard will be ready to return by Week 1.

The injury will keep Hubbard out of Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Bills, a game in which the Panthers are expected to play their starters.

Hubbard’s absence also creates a major opportunity for Jonathon Brooks.

Canales said earlier this week that the plan was for Brooks and Hubbard to split time against Buffalo. With Hubbard now sidelined, Brooks could see an increased workload.

Brooks has dealt with an incredibly difficult start to his NFL career with back-to-back ACL injuries. He missed the 2024 preseason while recovering from the torn ACL he suffered during his final college season before suffering another torn ACL during Week 14 of his rookie year, which caused him to miss the entire 2025 season.

Now healthy again, Brooks has been turning heads during training camp and has an opportunity to make his case for a significant role in Carolina’s backfield.