The Panthers have agreed to a 1-year deal with RB Rico Dowdle, per league source.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard

Carolina recently released Miles Sanders, so Dowdle should operate as an upgrade over the veteran. This is a much bigger hit to Hubbard's fantasy ceiling than Sanders functioned as last season, but it's not the best spot for Dowdle's fantasy aspirations, either.

If there are no more additions to the backfield, we should consider Hubbard a low-end RB2 and Dowdle a fringe RB3/4.

The Panthers are placing running back Chuba Hubbard (calf/knee) on injured reserve.

With only two weeks left in the season, this obviously ends Hubbard’s season. At 4-11, the Panthers are looking ahead to next season and protecting their big-money running back. Raheem Blackshear and Velus Jones are next up on the depth chart. Jonathan Brooks also landed on injured reserve a few weeks ago after re-tearing his ACL in Week 14 against the Eagles.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales gave an update on running back Jonathon Brooks’s knee injury at his Monday press conference and it was not a positive one.

Canales said that Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s 22-16 loss to the Eagles. Brooks tore the same ACL during his final season at Texas and the second-round pick was playing in his third game after being activated from the non-football injury list.

Related players: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear, Mike Boone

It's a terrible outcome for what many considered the top RB back at the NFL Draft. Brooks will look to be back before the start of next season, but given how careful the Panthers were with Brooks coming into this season, one can assume they will take a similar path. As the story said, Hubbard went over 1,000 yards against the Eagles, and with Sanders already injured and Blackshear injured during the game, Hubbard was forced to carry the load. He should continue to do so for the rest of the season. The team has Boone on the practice squad, but will likely need to make anther move at the position.

Panthers coach Dave Canales says running back Jonathon Brooks is good to go Sunday for his NFL debut.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard

The wait is over, but we're still not certain how much of a role he will play in Week 12, or the rest of the season for that matter. Continue to consider Hubbard an RB2 as we take a wait-and-see approach with Brooks' fantasy relevancy.

Canales says he “fully expect(s)” Jonathon Brooks to play this week.

Related players: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear

However, Canales added they still need to go through the week of work. The team doesn't expect Sanders (foot/ankle) to play, after we last saw him get carted off the field in Germany in Week 10. Brooks should back up Hubbard this week against the Chiefs, and it seems likely the team may ease Brooks into action after waiting this long to get him into his first game. It should be a tough go against the Chiefs and with the team likely playing from behind, it seems like Hubbard and Blackshear could see work on passing downs as the Panthers try to play catch-up. It's probably best to take the "wait-and-see" approach with Brooks.

Panthers RB Miles Sanders, who was carted off with a foot/ankle injury in Germany, is considered day-to-day after extensive tests and a visit with an expert, sources say.

They want the swelling to go down, and he could miss a little time. But as of now, not considered major.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks

Even with the Panthers Week 11 bye week, it's hard to envision much of a role for Sanders moving forward, with Brooks slated to become a part of the offense after the bye. Even if Brooks doesn't see the field, Sanders shouldn't be held on any fantasy rosters right now.

Canales said Chuba Hubbard is good to go with his knee.
Miles Sanders is seeing a specialist for foot/ankle injury. That one doesn't sound great.

Related players: Jonathon Brooks, Raheem Blackshear

Hubbard briefly left the game after fumbling the ball while getting twisted up on a tackle. However, Hubbard walked off under his own power and returned to the game on the next possession. Sanders, meanwhile, was carted off with his injury and is probably going to miss time. The Panthers have a bye in Week 11 and one would expect Brooks to make his debut when they return in Week 12. Hubbard is fresh off a signing a big contract but the Sanders injury should allow the team to finally get a look at Brooks. Once Brooks is available, considering Hubbard's contract and Brooks' draft capital, it will be interesting to see how the team divides up work at RB going forward.

Sources: The #Panthers have locked in one of their young stars, agreeing to terms with RB Chuba Hubbard on 4-year, $33.2M contract extension.

He gets a max value of $37.2M with $15M in new fully guaranteed money.

Related Players: Jonathon Brooks, Miles Sanders

The Panthers have decided to ship off Diontae Johnson and sophomore Jonathan Mingo, but their running back room is now set for the near future. It's an interesting decision, and may mean that Brooks coming in and taking over a full snap share is even less likely than it had been trending. Brooks feels unlikely to contribute in a meaningful way to 2024 fantasy rosters.

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports, though, reports the Panthers have no plans to trade cornerback Jaycee Horn or running back Chuba Hubbard.

Hubbard has played very well at RB and has been a pretty consistent player for his fantasy owners this season. He's averaged over 17 touches per game. However, owners need to remember that Jonathon Brooks is lurking on the IR and should be back sooner than later. It only makes sense for the Panthers to give Brooks work as the season goes on. He'll likely be eased into thing at first, but it seems like it's always been expected Brooks would at the very least split work, if not take on the lead back role for the Panthers.

The team has designated rookie running back Jonathon Brooks to return from the non-football injury list and safety Sam Franklin Jr. and defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy to return from injured reserve.

The moves open the three-week window for them to practice before being activated to the 53-man roster. They can be activated at any time.

Related Players: Chuba Hubbard

The Panthers could have a really exciting 1-2 punch on their hands here with Hubbard and Brooks, but we'll have to see how they navigate it, considering they're 1-5 and unlikely to be competing for anything other than a high draft pick in April. Brooks is definitely worth a stash if he's somehow available in your league, even if the team isn't going to give him a workhorse role anytime soon.