The Carolina Panthers have an abundance of talent at one position, it may be the only position the Panthers have an abundance of anything. That position would be running back. The Panters drafted Texas superstar Jonathon Brooks in the second round this past NFL Draft. Brooks hasn’t yet made his season debut still recovering from an ACL injury, but he should be making his season debut as soon as next week.
Additionally, the Panthers have resigned Oklahoma State product Chuba Hubbard to a four-year 33M dollar deal. Hubbard has been one of the biggest bright spots of the Panthers’ otherwise dismal offense. Hubbard stole the starting job away from Miles Sanders early on this season. HC Dave Canales compared Hubbard with Marshawn Lynch and loves his toughness to go along with his explosive burst out of the backfield.
Hubbard Takes Over Carolina Panthers Starting Job
Hubbard entered this season as the back-up running back to veteran Miles Sanders. After one week, Canales made the decision to give Hubbard the chance to be the lead back. Hubbard has taken full advantage, putting together a career year. Hubbard is averaging five yards per carry, he’s rushed for 665 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy has also added 108 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
The emergence of Hubbard and with Texas rookie Jonathon Brooks due to make his season debut, this leaves veteran Miles Sanders on the outside looking in. The Panthers will most likely hold onto Sanders for the remainder of the season for depth purposes, but don’t expect Sanders to be wearing a Panthers uniform next season. It is kind of a surprise the Panthers didn’t try trading Sanders away and getting some kind of draft capital for the back.
Sanders Odd Man Out
Miles Sanders enjoyed a breakout season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sanders would then leave and sign with the Carolina Panthers in free agency in 2023. Sanders would only be able to accumulate 432 yards and one touchdown in his first season with the Panthers.
This season hasn’t been any better, Sanders has only 134 yards and one touchdown. Sanders struggles would have been easy to blame on the lackluster Panthers’ offense if Hubbard hadn’t broken out. Sanders has yet to have more than seven carries in a game this season and hasn’t been able to eclipse more than 34 yards in a single game. This lack of production has forced Canales and the Panthers to rely on Hubbard much more. The addition of Brooks should only push Sanders further down the depth chart.
What Brooks Brings to the Table
The Panthers rookie back Jonathon Brooks was easily the best back in college football last season. Brooks would start eight games, rushing for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns. Brooks averaged 6.1 yards per carry and was a Doak Walker Award semi-finalist along with a Earl Campbell Rose Award finalist.
Brooks’ return to the field and debut for the Carolina Panthers is highly anticipated as he should provide the Panthers with an explosive one-two punch alongside Chuba Hubbard. Sanders will most likely be playing for another team next year after dropping down the depth chart for the Panthers.
Update:
Panthers running back, Miles Sanders has just been carted off with a lower leg injury in Germany.
For All NFL And College Football Content:
Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) at @MikeMatkin97. Also, don’t forget to give us a follow here at Gridiron Heroics. To read more of our articles and stay up to date with all the news and analysis in the NFL and College Football world.
