The Carolina Panthers have been trending in the right direction for several weeks.
Since switching back to Bryce Young, the Panthers are 2-1, with the franchise picking up back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly two seasons. A big reason for the Panthers’ recent success is running back Chuba Hubbard, who’s emerged as one of the league’s best ball-carriers this season.
Hubbard’s Exceptional Play This Season
While the Panthers may sport a sub-.500 record, Hubbard has performed exceptionally.
Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales spoke in the offseason about making running the ball part of the team’s identity, and Hubbard has certainly been a focal point in their game plan. Through 11 weeks of football, the fourth-year man out of Oklahoma State has racked up 818 yards on 161 carries, good for nearly 5.1 yards per attempt. That leaves him ranked fourth in the league in overall rushing yards. Hubbard also leads the Panthers in touchdowns this season with six.
Big-Time Contract Extension
Heading into this season, Chuba Hubbard was entering the final year of his rookie deal, which meant he could become a free agent at the end of the year. Additionally, the Panthers used a 2023 second-round selection on University of Texas running back Jonathan Brooks, leaving some uncertainty surrounding Hubbard’s future in the Queen City. Ahead of Carolina’s Week Ten match-up versus the New York Giants, however, the Panthers made things clear: they were committing to Hubbard long-term.
On November 8, the Panthers and Hubbard agreed to a four-year, $32.2 million contract extension to keep the star running back in the black and blue for the foreseeable future.
The deal looks to be a good one for both sides. For Hubbard, his stellar play this season has culminated in him earning a well-deserved lucrative contract extension. In the Panthers’ case, the team locked up one of their key offensive weapons and someone who’s become a cultural tone-setter within their locker room for the long term.
“He exemplifies everything we want on and off the field,” Panthers’ General Manager Dan Morgan said in a statement released by the team after the two sides agreed to the long-term extension, showing how respected Hubbard is within the organization.
A Look Ahead For Hubbard, Carolina
After taking a bye week to rest and recharge, the Panthers will return to action on Sunday at home versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
At this time, Dave Canales has committed to Bryce Young being the team’s starter, and it’s safe to assume Young will fill that role for the remainder of the season. Additionally, rookie Jonathon Brooks is scheduled to see his first NFL action in Week 12, meaning the Panthers may soon understand what a two-back system between Hubbard-Brooks could look like.
While it’s certainly a tall task, Chuba Hubbard and the Panthers can make a massive statement to the rest of the league on Sunday if they take down the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 12.
As far as the rest of their campaign goes, the back half of the Panthers’ schedule originally looked like tough sledding, but given the chaos we’ve seen so far this season, anything is possible.
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