Panthers coach Dave Canales said that Chuba Hubbard’s calf injury “wasn’t a factor” in how reps were divided in Week 4.

30 September 2025

Canales told reporters that he believes “with the players we have in the backfield, if we can sustain drives, if we can play these games that way, then we have a full-speed runner, a violent runner in every time.” That’s a rough quote for Hubbard’s future workload — something that Athletic beat writer Joseph Person is advocating should grow. It doesn’t feel like the coaching staff feels the same way. Rico Dowdle probably doesn’t qualify as a bye week FLEX play just yet, but this quote certainly at least puts him into consideration in deeper leagues.