Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard is set to miss Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a calf injury – coming as a serious blow to under-fire head coach Dave Canales.
Hubbard, 26, played through the nagging problem in last week’s defeat at the New England Patriots but saw his regular heavy workload reduced.
Canales then said Wednesday that his star man didn’t come out the game as well as he had the previous week and needed some rest from practice. Now NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that he has been ruled out of this weekend’s game.
Hubbard’s injury is the latest major setback for the Panthers coach, who is facing a battle to keep his job after going 1-3 so far this season.
All three of Carolina’s defeats have come on the road, nevertheless, with their only home outing ending in a shutout 30-0 victory over the struggling Atlanta Falcons.
The pressure is on to deliver another win in front of their supporters when Miami visits Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, but Canales will not be able to turn to favored running back Hubbard.
Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard is set to miss Sunday’s clash with the Dolphins with a calf injury
It is the latest setback for coach Dave Canales, who is already facing a battle to keep his job
Rico Dowdle, who signed a one-year, $6.25million contract with the team earlier this year, will start in his place with Trevor Etienne and DeeJay Dallas serving as backups.
Hubbard ran for nearly 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, but has been limited to 217 yards this term and hasn’t scored a touchdown on the ground. He does have two touchdown receptions.
Dowdle eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing last season with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Panthers as an unrestricted free agent.
He is averaging only 3 yards per carry this season but has scored one rushing touchdown for Carolina.
As for the Dolphins, they are looking to build on their first win of the season against the New York Jets on Monday night.
