Chuba Hubbard hopes to see interesting new wrinkle in Dave Canales' offense

With Chuba Hubbard set to rejoin the lineup, could we see him sharing the backfield with Rico Dowdle.

Oct 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. | Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

One of several storylines to follow for the Carolina Panthers this week is what head coach Dave Canales decides to do in their backfield.

For the last two weeks, Rico Dowdle has been substituted for Chuba Hubbard, who's been out with a calf injury. Dowdle has become one of the NFL's biggest surprises this season, racking up an incredible 473 yards from scrimmage in wins over the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys.

With Hubbard expected to rejoin the lineup on Sunday afternoon against the New York Jets, Canales has an interesting decision to make. Should he ride the hot hand and continue starting Dowdle, or give the reins back to Hubbard?

That remains to be seen, and of course Canales is in no hurry to announce his plans. For what it's worth, Hubbard wants to see an interesting new wrinkle in putting both Dowdle and himself on the field at the same time.

Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard on having both him and Rico Dowdle in the backfield at the same time: “I think that would be very lethal. That’s something I’d hope for.” pic.twitter.com/Fjkjf3IPpx

— CharlotteVibe (@charlottevibe) October 15, 2025

While it would be interesting, that doesn't necessarily make it a good idea.

For one thing, giving anybody but Dowdle the ball right now would qualify as offensive malpractice. He's simply been too explosive and too efficient to go away from him, even if his huge breakout games have come against awful defenses.

Meanwhile, Hubbard has been very slow to start the season on the ground, having posted zero explosive runs and zero missed tackles on 53 attmpts. Hubbard is also only averaging 4.1 yards per attempt - compared to 5.8 for Dowdle.

Unless the plan is to use Hubbard as a decoy, Canales should keep Dowdle as the team's work-horse three-down back - at least over the next two weeks as they face the poor rushing defenses of the Jets and the Buffalo Bills.

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