Chuba Hubbard insists he could play if the Panthers had a regular season game this week. Carolina isn’t taking that risk. The team continues to hold its starting running back out of practice as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
That decision is more than just caution. Hubbard has missed the past couple of weeks, and head coach Dave Canales remains optimistic about his Week 1 status against the Bears. Still, the Panthers have made it clear: Hubbard hasn’t yet cleared the threshold for football activity, especially the physical demands that go beyond rehab.
Canales pointed to Hubbard’s recent progress, noting he hit over 20 mph in a controlled return-to-play session. But the coach didn’t oversell what that means.
“I think he hit over 20 mph the other day in [return to play], but that’s in a controlled setting,” Canales said, via the team website. “And right now we didn’t want to put him back out there. He’s not ready for someone to pull on his jersey and have him pull through that. But he’s ahead of schedule. He’s doing a great job.”
Hubbard’s Week 1 status rests on a controlled recovery plan
The Panthers expect Hubbard to be available for the opener. That’s not the same as saying he’s ready now. Canales avoided promising Hubbard would play if the Bears game were this week, even as Hubbard voiced confidence in his own health. The gap between a player’s optimism and the staff’s medical caution is shaping Carolina’s approach.
Hubbard told CBS Sports his hamstring feels good, but admitted the Panthers are protecting him from himself after he rushed back too soon last year. That acknowledgment adds weight to the team’s current caution. Carolina isn’t just managing a preseason absence. The staff is responding to Hubbard’s own admission that an early return previously led to bigger problems.
Canales’ comments offer a more honest assessment than any optimistic headline. Hubbard can run at speed in a controlled environment, but hasn’t been cleared for the unpredictable physicality of contact. Until that changes, the Panthers are projecting for Week 1 without exposing Hubbard to the very situations that could set him back.
That approach might be prudent, but it leaves Hubbard with little time to transition from rehab to full football readiness before Chicago arrives.
Jonathon Brooks gains work as Hubbard remains sidelined
Hubbard’s absence has opened the door for Jonathon Brooks to get extra reps. Brooks, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, has used the preseason to ramp up for his NFL debut.
Canales said if Hubbard returns for Week 1, he and Brooks will share the workload in a committee. That’s not just about Hubbard’s health. It signals a broader plan for the backfield, with both players expected to see action in September. The team hasn’t detailed how carries will be split.
For Hubbard, a committee approach offers some protection. Carolina won’t need to lean on him for a full workload right away, reducing the risk of aggravating his hamstring. It also gives the Panthers flexibility if Hubbard is active but not quite ready for a heavy dose of contact.
So far, the public evidence is limited. Hubbard has rehabbed, hit a speed benchmark, and drawn praise for being ahead of schedule. He still hasn’t cleared the final hurdle: contact. The Panthers expect him to face the Bears, but Canales’ own words make clear the real test is still to come.
