Over the past few years, the Carolina Panthers have slowly rebuilt their franchise into one that consistently competes for a playoff spot.
One face of this rebuild is running back and team captain Chuba Hubbard, who is in his sixth season with the franchise. The 2021 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State has evolved into one of the most impactful players on the roster.
But are the Panthers in danger of putting too much on his plate?
Chuba Hubbard carries a heavy burden amid Carolina Panthers' injury crisis
Early this season, the Panthers have been bitten by the injury bug, and it has affected the backfield behind Hubbard. As the injury problems pile up, it is fair to ask if Carolina is doing enough to help the veteran right now.
This season, Hubbard has the most carries (61), rushing yards (306), and rushing touchdowns (3) on the roster by a wide margin. In comparison, veteran AJ Dillon has 17 carries for 43 yards in four games.
However, Dillon is the latest running back to get hurt and has missed multiple practices with an ankle injury.
A few weeks ago, Jonathon Brooks was placed on injured reserve for a core muscle injury, and second-year tailback Trevor Etienne is expected to be activated from injured reserve this week after an ankle ailment put him on the list for the first four games of the campaign.
Despite Etienne's return, Hubbard is likely to receive a significant number of touches out of the backfield against the Philadelphia Eagles. Again, it is fair to ask if Carolina is placing too much pressure on their veteran running back.
Hubbard has dealt with injuries in recent years, including last season, which allowed Rico Dowdle's experience to shine. The Panthers' leading rusher in 2024 is healthy again, but Carolina would rather not lean on him so heavily if they could help it.
Carolina Panthers look comfortable with Chuba Hubbard's current role
Yet, it doesn't seem like the Panthers or Hubbard mind the workload.
Hubbard has produced when he gets more touches, though that is expected for any running back. Even so, he's ultra-reliable when you need him to handle 20-25 carries a game, despite not being the most explosive option.
Etienne's return will help ease the workload somewhat against the Eagles' vaunted defensive front this weekend. This is an opportunity for the former Georgia Bulldog and Florida Gator to show whether he should remain on the roster beyond training camp next summer.
After Etienne, the Panthers will likely bring up Anthony Tyus or Ahmani Marshall from the practice squad if Dillon can't go, which means they lose their short-yardage back for the weekend.
It's a lot to ask of Hubbard, but he's shown he can handle these situations when asked.
For now, Hubbard is the workhorse back and has trained his body to handle that responsibility. The Panthers don't seem to mind, especially when the production and health remain consistent.
As Etienne gets his feet under him and Brooks return approaches in the later weeks, how the Panthers will game plan their touches for Hubbard will be a fascinating storyline to watch.
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