Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) carries in the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. The Lions won 42-24. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Chuba Hubbard will start at running back on Sunday for the Carolina Panthers against the Miami Dolphins with veteran Miles Sanders ruled out with a shoulder injury.
Sanders, who signed a four-year, $25.4 million contract this offseason — the largest deal given out to a running back this summer — has started the team’s first five games for the winless Panthers. However, Hubbard has received 23 carries the last two weeks, three more than Sanders. Sanders didn’t play as much in the second half after a first half fumble in a 42-24 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Sanders is one of five players who are listed as out for the Panthers (0-5).
Safeties Vonn Bell (quad) and Xavier Woods (hamstring), guard Chandler Zavala (neck) and fullback Gio Ricci (shoulder) were also ruled out. That means the Panthers will be extremely thin at safety and coach Frank Reich said Matthias Farley will be added from the practice squad and is expected to start.
Also, defensive end Derrick Brown (knee/ankle) and outside linebacker Brian Burns (ankle) are listed as questionable. Burns practiced in full on Friday while Brown was limited.
