CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard said he expects to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, but he isn't sure in what capacity after missing the past two games with a calf injury.
His replacement, Rico Dowdle, complicated the situation with 473 yards from scrimmage — a two-game team record — in wins against the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys. Dowdle had 389 rushing yards, falling 17 yards shy of becoming only the fifth back in NFL history to have consecutive 200-yard games.
His rushing total alone was 172 yards more than the 217 that Hubbard had in the first four games as the starter.
«I believe in full transparency,'' coach Dave Canales said when pressed about who might start. „I believe in having these conversations early on to talk about what it may look like and give the guys the benefit of the doubt to say, 'OK, let's look at the situation that we currently are in. Let's deal with the facts and let's move forward from there.'
“I don't like to paint myself into a box to say a guy can't lose his job to injury. That's a dangerous spot to put yourself in when a person shows you what they can do.»
Pushed further about whether Dowdle had earned the right to start, Canales said that he's «earned the right to help this team, and he will.»
Canales said the coaching staff will «find a way to do that,» but didn't give details.
Dowdle and Hubbard made it clear it didn't matter who started.
«We're both very talented players,'' Hubbard said. „I can't say what it's going to look like exactly or how it's going to be. I'm not the coach. But obviously, two great backs. Anytime you can put us on the field, let's do it.“
Dowdle was equally humble about who gets the ball first, saying it doesn't matter
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