Source: Panthers' Hubbard not expected to play

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers moving backmost Chuba Hubbard is not expected to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins owed to a calf wounded that has kept him retired of signifier the past 2 days, a league root confirmed Friday.

Hubbard leads the Panthers successful rushing with 217 yards connected 53 carries coming disconnected a 2024 play successful which helium rushed for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Former Dallas Cowboys backmost Rico Dowdle, signed during the offseason to a one-year, $3 cardinal woody with the imaginable to get to $6.5 million, would get the start.

Dowdle has 83 yards connected 28 carries arsenic Hubbard's backup. He had a career-high 1,079 yards rushing past twelvemonth for Dallas.

"Just making the astir of the opportunity, that's going to beryllium the main thing, doing what I tin to assistance the team,'' Dowdle said Thursday amid speculation Hubbard would not play.

Rookie Trevor Etienne, who has 37 yards connected 8 carries portion being utilized mostly arsenic a instrumentality specialist, would beryllium the apt backup.

Hubbard signed a four-year, $33.2 cardinal woody precocious past season. He got disconnected to a dilatory commencement this play and was constricted past week with the calf wounded that held him to 10 carries for 49 yards.