MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball during the first half in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday that they extended running back Chuba Hubbard in a four-year deal worth $33 million. The 25-year-old has been with the team for four years and is currently in the midst of his best NFL season.
“Definitely lifts a burden off me a little bit,” Hubbard said of his new deal. ”I’ve always wanted to take care of my family for life…. At the end of the day, I want to be great. I want to be a Panther for life.”
In his first three seasons with the Panthers, Hubbard struggled to earn a leading role in the backfield, losing carries to the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Miles Sanders and D’Onta Foreman. Entering 2024, it appeared that he would soon be playing second fiddle again until 2024 second-round pick Jonathan Brooks went down with an injury before the season.
After a slow start along with the rest of the Panthers’ offense, Hubbard has exploded as the unchallenged backfield leader. In nine starts, he has run for 665 yards and five touchdowns, proving to be a bright spot in a dreary year for Carolina. In Week 9, he scored the go-ahead touchdown in a 23-22 victory over the Saints.
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The Panthers announced Hubbard’s extension one day after taking Brooks off the injured list, showing signs of confidence in two different running backs in the span of one week. The extension ensures that Hubbard will maintain some sort of role in the offense for the foreseeable future, but Brooks could cut into his workload as he gradually makes his way back to the field.
While Carolina’s running game continues to produce, everything else is shaping up poorly. The defense is below average at best, made worse by a woefully inefficient offense. Quarterback Bryce Young has struggled to kickstart the passing game all season, and while Andy Dalton did a better job in Young’s stead, that didn’t lead to more wins for the team. The front office recently traded standout wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Baltimore, a clear sign that the team is packing it in for the season.
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