Panthers face RB conundrum with Hubbard return

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers moving backmost Chuba Hubbard said helium expects to play against the New York Jets connected Sunday, but helium isn't definite successful what capableness aft missing the past 2 games with a calf injury.

His replacement, Rico Dowdle, complicated the situation with 473 yards from scrimmage -- a two-game squad grounds -- successful wins against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. Dowdle had 389 rushing yards, falling 17 yards shy of becoming lone the 5th backmost successful NFL past to person consecutive 200-yard games.

His rushing full unsocial was 172 yards much than the 217 that Hubbard had successful the archetypal 4 games arsenic the starter.

"I judge successful afloat transparency,'' manager Dave Canales said erstwhile pressed astir who mightiness start. "I judge successful having these conversations aboriginal connected to speech astir what it whitethorn look similar and springiness the guys the payment of the uncertainty to say, 'OK, let's look astatine the concern that we presently are in. Let's woody with the facts and let's determination guardant from there.'

"I don't similar to overgarment myself into a container to accidental a feline can't suffer his occupation to injury. That's a unsafe spot to enactment yourself successful erstwhile a idiosyncratic shows you what they tin do."

Pushed further astir whether Dowdle had earned the close to start, Canales said that he's "earned the close to assistance this team, and helium will."

Canales said the coaching unit volition "find a mode to bash that," but didn't springiness details.

Dowdle and Hubbard made it wide it didn't substance who started.

"We're some precise talented players,'' Hubbard said. "I can't accidental what it's going to look similar precisely oregon however it's going to be. I'm not the coach. But obviously, 2 large backs. Anytime you tin enactment america connected the field, let's bash it."

Dowdle was arsenic humble astir who gets the shot first, saying it doesn't substance who starts "as agelong arsenic we each are getting the shot and things similar that ... helping the squad win."

Dowdle said determination are benefits to having some backs play, adjacent though some admitted the much repetitions a backmost has, the easier it is to get successful a rhythm.

"It's going to let america some to beryllium caller passim the full game,'' Dowdle said. "We've seen the past 2 games. I've cramped up late.''

Hubbard was listed arsenic constricted Wednesday successful his archetypal signifier successful much than 2 weeks.

"He's got a existent focused look successful his eyes,'' Canales said. "He's bare and can't hold to get backmost retired there.''