Panthers Star RB Chuba Hubbard Out for Season

Carolina Panthers star running back Chuba Hubbard has been placed on the injured reserve list, effectively ending his season. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter "Sources: After rushing for 1,195 yards this season, Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is being placed on injured reserve today due to a calf and knee injury. His impressive season now has come to an end."

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Hubbard was a non-participant for Wednesday's practice, officially listed for rest designation. He was later listed with a knee injury, which appears to be severe enough to have him placed on the injured reserve list.

According to a follow-up post from Schefter, "A Friday night MRI on Chuba Hubbard revealed a season-ending Grade 2 calf strain."

This will prevent him from playing in the final two games of the season and shut down his standout 2024.

Hubbard was drafted by the Panthers in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma State, where he had a standout 2019 season, leading the nation with 2,094 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors.

In his rookie year, he stepped into a larger role with the Panthers due to injuries to star RB Christian McCaffrey, finishing the season with 172 carries for 612 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 25 receptions for 174 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, appearing in 17 games and making 10 starts.

In the Panthers' Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Chuba Hubbard surpassed 1,000 scrimmage yards for the second consecutive season.

Later, in Week 16, he rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in a thrilling 36-30 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his standout performance.

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Hubbard also made headlines as a Canadian-born NFL player and recently became the second Canadian to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark, the first being Seahawks and Saints RB Rueben Mayes. It was hoped that Hubbard would be able to crack the 159 yards needed to break Mayes' record in these final two games, even by the previous record holder himself.

"I'm cheering for him to do it," Mayes previously said. "I did what I did 38 years ago and being the first [Canadian] to do it, I feel a lot of pride about that. But now it's Chuba's time. It (1,353 yards) is definitely within reach and I think Canadians should be really proud to know there's a homegrown player who's doing that on a big stage like that. The big thing is to stay healthy and have the opportunity but Chuba is in position to do that."

However, those hopes have now been dashed. While Hubbard has had a stellar 2024 season, he'll need to try again next year.

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