NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Chuba Hubbard (calf) “is expected to miss” Week 5’s game against the Dolphins.

03 October 2025

Hubbard’s calf injury will require at least a one-game absence. The Panthers’ RB1, while not officially ruled out by the team, is expected to miss Week 5 against the Dolphins, per Rapoport, which would put Rico Dowdle in line for lead duties. Hopefully, this is only a one-week thing for Hubbard, who has struggled out of the gate. After breaking out for 250-1,195-10 on the ground last season, Hubbard has totaled just 217 scoreless yards on 53 carries this season, but has found the end zone twice through the air. Fantasy managers who add Dowdle can view him as a fringe RB2/RB3 against a Miami defense that’s allowed the third-most rushing yards per game and fourth-highest YPC (5.1) to its opponents this season.