Panthers' running back Hubbard week to week with hamstring injury

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales said he is "confident" that injured running back Chuba Hubbard (30) will be available for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. File Photo by Laurence Kesterson/UPI Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has "a legit hamstring" injury and is week to week, coach Dave Canales told reporters Thursday. "We're going to get him some treatment," Canales said. "Very confident he'll be ready for game one, trying to get him out there sooner than that, but again, we'll be smart about it. We'll get him back in the appropriate time." Hubbard felt an issue with the hamstring at training camp Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. The five-year veteran, who split time with Rico Dowdle as the starter last season, was listed as the top running back on the Panthers' first unofficial depth chart for 2026. Jonathan Brooks is listed with the second team, ahead of Trevor Etienne, A.J. Dillon and Anthony Tyus II. Canales said he expects Etienne and Dillon to get more reps behind Brooks, who will start against the Buffalo Bills in the Panthers' second preseason game Saturday in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Carolina Panthers signed running back Chuba Hubbard (30) to a four-year extension in 2024. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI Brooks, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, missed the first 10 games of his rookie campaign while recovering from an ACL tear. He appeared in three games that season before retearing the same ACL in his right knee. He missed the entire 2025 season to recover from the injury. Canales said starting quarterback Bryce Young will play a "couple of series" against the Bills. Backups Kenny Pickett and Kyle Trask also will get snaps in the preseason matchup. Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) totaled 734 yards from scrimmage and four scores last season. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI Hubbard, 27, totaled a career-high 1.366 yards and 11 scores over 15 starts in 2024. He signed a four-year, $44.2 million contract extension in November of that year. Hubbard logged 734 yards from scrimmage and four scores over 15 appearances in 2025. The Bills will host the Panthers at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday at the new Highmark Stadium. The Panthers will host the Chicago Bears in their regular-season opener Sept. 13 in Charlotte.