Chuba Hubbard, running back for the Carolina Panthers, has been placed on injured reserve due to a strained calf, ending his season prematurely. This announcement follows the athlete’s limited participation in Friday’s practice, where he also experienced knee issues. An MRI later confirmed the extent of the calf injury, identified as a grade two strain. Hubbard has had an impressive season, recording 1,195 rushing yards and ten touchdowns, placing him as the fourth-highest single-season rusher in franchise history and sixth in the league.
Hubbard, hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta, has been a crucial part of the Panthers’ offense. His absence marks the third running back from the team to be sidelined this season, following injuries to Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. As a result, Mike Boone is expected to start in Hubbard’s place for the upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Raheem Blackshear likely sharing the workload.
In his final game of the season, Hubbard delivered a stellar performance by rushing for 152 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including a decisive 21-yard touchdown in overtime against the Arizona Cardinals. This achievement earned him the NFC offensive player of the week. In addition to his rushing statistics, Hubbard also contributed 43 receptions for 171 yards and an additional touchdown throughout the season.
