Overview
- Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Thursday that Hubbard has a hamstring injury, an MRI confirmed it, and the team considers him week-to-week.
- Canales expressed confidence Hubbard will be ready for the regular-season opener while the club follows a conservative return-to-play plan to lower re-injury risk.
- With Hubbard sidelined for at least part of the preseason, Jonathon Brooks will take first-group reps and start the Panthers’ preseason game against the Bills.
- The shift accelerates Brooks’ chance to establish a lead role after ACL recovery and raises playing-time stakes for depth options Trevor Etienne and A.J. Dillon.
- Hubbard’s recent uneven availability and the slow-healing nature of hamstring injuries make his preseason absence notable for roster decisions and fantasy outlooks.