Tag: Chuba Hubbard

The Carolina Panthers are at the .500 mark for the first time since November of 2021.

Naturally, the Carolina faithful is excited about the team’s two game-winning streak and its turnaround in the standings. They’re also curious about the future of their favorite football franchise.

So, the Panthers mailbag is back to answer some fan questions.

Here are some standout questions from social media:

What has changed for the Panthers?

Ed on Bluesky asks: If you can pinpoint it, what’s been the difference with the Panthers in wins over Miami and Dallas?

Mike Kaye: The dominant running game on offense has helped both sides of the ball.

During the first four games of the season, the Panthers averaged an uninspiring 100.3 rushing yards per game, as they took part in four lopsided matchups.

The Panthers weren’t able to control the clock. They weren’t able to consistently handle short-yardage situations. And they weren’t able to bully anyone.

That changed in Week 5, when the Panthers played a lowly Miami Dolphins defense that couldn’t stop anyone. The offensive line executed very well, Rico Dowdle took advantage of his excessive carries, and head coach Dave Canales stuck with the run, even when down by two possessions. The unit collected 239 rushing yards against the Dolphins in a comeback win.

Against Dallas, Canales called a terrific game. The offensive line — missing right tackle Taylor Moton — executed extremely well, again, and the running game was a massive success (216 total rushing yards). It’s important to note though, the Dallas Cowboys’ run defense is also very bad.

Still, those two performances show you how the success of the run game can impact all facets of a team.

The defense wasn’t tired after several quick, failed drives by the offense. That helped the defensive front impose its will in the trenches, particularly against the run. The Panthers held the two opposing offenses to 50 combined rushing yards, as Dowdle ran wild on Miami and Dallas in consecutive weeks.

The offensive passing game benefited with play-action fakes. They were able to sell the run and marry the blocking schemes functionally. Quarterback Bryce Young had himself a strong second half against Miami and an excellent overall game against Dallas as a result. I think it’s pretty hard to ignore how the running game success has impacted Young’s turnaround in production.

From a broader outlook, the offensive line has been terrific, despite missing three starters against Dallas. Canales has called two pretty balanced games and you’re starting to see the run and pass impact each other positively. Dowdle is running through huge holes, and Young is taking advantage of defenses that think the run is coming.

Defensively, the Panthers have been excellent against the run. That phase has been the unit’s Achilles heel since Ejiro Evero got to Carolina in 2023, but the upgraded defensive front has played lights out in that regard over the past two weeks.

Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom — after switching up roles — have thrived against the run, while Derrick Brown has looked like his Pro Bowl self. The outside linebackers have also done a nice job of routinely setting the edge as well.

A backfield timeshare for two?

Radar on X (formerly known as Twitter) asks: What could the snap percentage look for Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle next week?

Speaking specifically about Week 7, I’d expect the Panthers to roll with the hot hand. A 60-40 split for Dowdle and Hubbard probably makes sense with Hubbard potentially returning to action on the road.

To be clear, I wouldn’t look at that as a demotion for Hubbard at all. He’s coming off a calf injury that cost him two games, and so I would expect the Panthers to ease him back into the action, especially as Dowdle has found his groove.

The New York Jets are allowing 130 rushing yards per game. They rank 23rd in the league in that phase of defense. Part of that mediocrity is due to constantly playing from behind, but there are reasons to believe that the Panthers can continue having running game success in the Meadowlands.

Dowdle’s success has been eye-opening, but it also needs some context. The Panthers have played terrible run defenses in back-to-back weeks, and the offensive line — even with multiple Week 1 starters missing — has played exceptionally well. While Dowdle’s style is different than Hubbard’s approach, I think it would be fair to project that Hubbard would have had a lot of success in Week 5 and Week 6 as well, if he were healthy.

That’s not taking anything away from Dowdle. He’s been electric in space and tough to take down in the trenches. But I think it would be pretty naive to shortchange Hubbard’s outlook with an improved blocking scheme against a pair of lowly defensive fronts.

The rotation, if the Panthers are being smart, should look different every week. That’s the benefit of having two starting-caliber running backs.

If the Panthers are facing a strong north-to-south defending defense, they should play Dowdle more. If they are playing a team that really sets the edge well, they should play Hubbard more. They then can sprinkle in Trevor Etienne when necessary.

Planning for the future of the OL

Adam on Bluesky asks: Do you think the org sees Cade Mays as a long-term solution or will they continue to wait and see?

I think the Panthers are in wait-and-see mode at center. And really, why rush that decision?

The Panthers initially picked Austin Corbett over Mays to start at center. Corbett didn’t play particularly well before sustaining a knee injury in Week 2, and Mays has played quite well since replacing him in Week 3.

Both Mays and Corbett are on one-year pacts. If Mays continues to play well, perhaps the front office will reward him with a long-term contract.

The two reasons to remain skeptical are kind of obvious.

For one, it’s Week 7, and Mays has started just four games this season, so the sample size is quite small. The other issue — and it’s a big one — is the money already assigned to the line.

According to Over The Cap, the Panthers lead the league with $87.7 million invested in the offensive line this year. The next closest team is the Kansas City Chiefs with $72.2 million invested in their offensive line in 2025. That’s a $15.5 million gap between No. 1 (Carolina) and No. 2 (Kansas City) in regard to offensive line cap spending.

As of now, Over The Cap, projects the Panthers to have $86.5 million invested in the line next year. That would be the third-ranked total as of now, but remember, that’s without Corbett and Mays factored into the math. So, even without a center in place, the Panthers would have the third-highest payroll for offensive line in 2026.

Could the Panthers try to go the cheaper, developmental route with a high draft pick at center? That seems logical, even with Mays performing at a high level.

That said, if Mays continues to perform, it’d make sense to go with who you know as opposed to a young player who will have growing pains. That decision would likely come down to how the Panthers want to handle the rest of their line.

Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is due to play on his fifth-year option (valued at $17.5 million) next year. If the Panthers decide to extend him, they can greatly lower his cap number. If that were to be the case, Mays’ cap hit would probably be a lot more palatable on the spending plan.

For now, though, we wait.

2024 draft pick impacted by recent success?

Andrew on X asks: What do you think could be our options with Jonathon Brooks moving forward?

The wait-and-see approach isn’t only going to be at center this year. Brooks, the Panthers’ 2024 second-round pick, should be considered someone to monitor throughout the next 12 months.

Brooks underwent his second ACL surgery in as many offseasons earlier this year. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list this summer, ending his second season before it even began. He’s out for the year, and he only has three NFL games on his resume.

That outlook seems quite bleak. But I’ve been impressed by how attentive Brooks has been in practice throughout training camp, the preseason and the regular season so far. He’s been on the field daily, interacting with teammates and taking heavy mental reps.

Sure, it’s all about Brooks’ (twice) surgically repaired right knee at this point, but it says something about his character that he is staying present even with his notable adversity. Typically, guys with “want to” have better success than those looking to cash a check, especially coming off notable injuries.

The Panthers are having a ton of success with Dowdle of late. But remember, he’s on a one-year deal, and he is probably going to be looking to get a long-term pact somewhere next offseason. Hubbard, who is signed through 2028, is a leader in the locker room and on the field, but it’s fair to think that he will be managed as he enters his late 20s on a big deal.

Yes, the Panthers selected Etienne in the fourth round of this year’s draft. They really like him, and he looks like a player who can be a long-term cog in the offense. But that doesn’t mean Brooks can’t have a role in 2026.

Even if the Panthers decide to make Hubbard and Etienne their primary backs in 2026, Brooks could have a role as a third-down back and returner.

The issue for the Brooks though, is the Panthers can’t depend on him until he’s been a regular on the field. So, they’ll likely replace Dowdle — if he signs elsewhere — with another talented running back in the offseason. Brooks will need to compete, coming off two major surgeries.

Luckily for Brooks, he will know the offense — in theory — and be comfortable in the building. If he can recover health-wise, he can be a huge asset for the Panthers. He likely won’t live up to his draft pedigree, but he can certainly contribute in multiple areas if he can play up to his college film. If he doesn’t, well, then he’s probably going to be on the roster bubble, through no fault of his own.

It’s fair to criticize Brooks’ selection by the Panthers. He was a one-year standout coming off a major knee surgery. He ended up missing the first 10 games of his rookie season, and he produced 55 total yards in three games before reinjuring himself. Right now, it looks like a massive bust of a draft decision.

It’s on Brooks and the Panthers’ medical team to find a way to flip the script, and they’ll have an entire year to prepare for a comeback.