4 Carolina Panthers on the chopping block after Matt Rhule’s dismissal
By Luke Gray
Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers RB
As the weeks go by, the role of Chuba Hubbard seems to diminish. After being thrust into a bigger role in 2021 following an injury to Christian McCaffrey, a lot less is being asked of the former Oklahoma State man. Couple the health of the All-Pro with the free agent acquisition of D’Onta Foreman, and the former Oklahoma State star finds himself at No. 3 on the depth chart.
Hubbard found a role on special teams after return man Andre Roberts was placed on injured/reserve following Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. But he’s hardly done enough to fill this role long-term so far, fumbling the ball on the first kickoff at the New York Giants.
In the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen Laviska Shenault returning kicks but with the recently acquired offensive weapon nursing a hamstring injury, the special teams unit was unsurprisingly hesitant to give return duties back to Hubbard after his recent failure.
The Carolina Panthers signed Raheem Blackshear off the Buffalo Bills practice squad and he was finally active in Week 5, making an immediate impact. The Virginia Tech product accumulated 200 return yards, including two which he ran out to around midfield for short fields that resulted in nine of the team’s 15 points.
With the Panthers not using many running backs outside McCaffrey and Hubbard now relieved of kick return duties, one has to wonder if the man who was drafted following a recommendation from Matt Rhule’s wife will last that long under Steve Wilks.