Canadian Chuba Hubbard replaces injured Christian McCaffrey with Panthers

Photo courtesy: Carolina Panthers

Canadian running back Chuba Hubbard has taken over the main role in the Carolina Panthers’ offence following an injury to Christian McCaffrey.

The star running back suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday night’s game against the Houston Texans, leaving the game after recording seven carries for 31 yards. He has been ruled for the rest of the game, which opens the door for the Canadian rookie to make an impact.

The native of Sherwood Park, Alberta was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He got his first career carry in a Week 2 win over the Saints, finished the game with ten rushing yards.

Hubbard put up impressive numbers over the course of his college career. He led the NCAA with 2,094 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore and was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He finished eighth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious award in college football.

Many pundits speculated that he would have been a second or third-round pick had he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. Instead, Hubbard returned to Oklahoma State for his redshirt junior season, proving his desire to lead his team to a conference championship.

Hubbard was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders, though he remains focused on making an impact early in his NFL career.