CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rico Dowdle will replace Carolina Panthers starting running back Chuba Hubbard for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins at Bank of America Stadium, coach Dave Canales said on Friday.
Hubbard was ruled out with a calf injury that has kept him out of practice all week.
"We just couldn't get Chuba around quickly enough to put him out there,'' Canales said. "We'll keep working on him and take another look at him early next week. Rico, we're expecting him just like always to run the runs we call, and run with the type of energy and intensity we know he can.''
Canales classified Hubbard as day-to-day, so this isn't expected to be a long-term injury. Hubbard leads the Panthers in rushing with 217 yards on 53 carries coming off a 2024 season in which he rushed for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Dowdle was signed during the offseason to a one-year, $3 million deal with the potential to get to $6.5 million after he couldn't come to terms to re-sign with the Dallas Cowboys following a career-high 1,079 yards last season.
Dowdle has 83 yards on 28 carries as Hubbard's backup.
"Just making the most of the opportunity, that's gonna be the main thing, doing what I can to help the team,'' Dowdle said on Thursday amid speculation Hubbard would not play.
Rookie Trevor Etienne, who has 37 yards on eight carries while being used mostly as a return specialist, will be up next.
Meanwhile, starting wide receiver Xavier Legette will return after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. Carolina also plans to activate rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn for the first time this season.
Canales said wide receiver Jalen Coker, who will miss his fifth straight game, will have his window opened to return from injured reserve next week.
