Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales wants to run the ball more, especially during the 2026 NFL season. He has made his intentions clear over the past three summers.
And with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik now calling plays, and 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks returning to the mix, Carolina is hoping for a boost in production and consistency from its running back rotation. After a couple of years of uneven production, the Panthers are counting on a trio of running backs with notable injury histories to get the ball moving: Brooks, Chuba Hubbard and AJ Dillon.
Brooks, who was sidelined in practice last week because of general soreness, also missed Monday's workout. Canales said last Thursday that he was "very optimistic" about Brooks' availability in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox). However, on Monday, Canales said he remained hopeful on Brooks but wouldn't give an update on his status until Wednesday.
Brooks is expected to share the backfield workload in 2026 with Hubbard, the Panthers' returning starter, and as Rico Dowdle proved last season, having a tandem to ride the hot hand in the backfield is important in any offense.
"Yeah, we'll definitely roll it out just the way we have been," Canales said last month. "Where you have a lead back for the series, the other guy comes in on third down so they can be in there for the protection, and also we run the ball on third down. So those are good opportunities to just keep a guy into the game, while the other person, whether it's Chuba or [Brooks], we'll make that decision when we get closer.
"But whoever the lead guy for the base downs is, they'll get the bulk of that rhythm."
Here's a breakdown of the Panthers' current running back depth chart and the latest news on their health:
Chuba Hubbard | Age: 27
2025 stats: 511 rushing yards and a TD on 134 carries (3.8 yards per carry); 223 receiving yards and three TDs on 30 catches (7.4 yards per catch)
Recent injury history: Hamstring injury (missed entire 2026 preseason); calf injury (missed two games in 2025)
Hubbard was hampered by the aforementioned calf injury throughout the 2025 season, despite missing only two games. He eventually lost his starting job to Dowdle -- who is now in Pittsburgh -- and finished with a forgettable stat total in the Panthers' push toward a playoff spot. After winning the NFC South title, Hubbard once again became the primary back in the team's wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Hubbard appeared to be on a load management schedule throughout training camp. While he frequently worked with the starting group in practice, the first-team reps were spread out. The veteran playmaker sustained a hamstring injury midway through camp, and he missed the entirety of the preseason game slate. He also missed out on joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
Hubbard returned to practice last week. Prior to the preseason finale, he said he could have played in the final game if it had been a meaningful matchup. But the Panthers rested their starters and took precautions with Hubbard throughout the summer. Resting Hubbard for a big workload appears to be the plan.
Hubbard, who signed a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension in 2024, has been backed by Canales and general manager Dan Morgan at every turn, and their hope is he can return to the form that warranted his long-term pact in the first place. He ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 before his injury-plagued 2025 campaign.
Jonathon Brooks | Age: 23
2025 stats: N/A
Recent injury history: Tore right ACL in 2023 (at Texas) and in 2024 (he missed entire 2025 season and only played in three games in 2024)
Brooks made his training camp and preseason debuts this summer. During the previous two offseasons, Brooks was sidelined as he recovered from ACL surgeries on his right knee. The No. 46 overall pick in the 2024 draft initially injured his knee while playing for the Longhorns. But during his rookie season, Brooks returned to the field in Week 12 and played in three games before retearing his right ACL against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14.
After missing the entire 2025 season, he returned to practices in the spring and has had a steady workload ever since. The Panthers have been patient with Brooks in his recovery, and he had the occasional rest day sprinkled into the workout schedule.
The Panthers are hoping he can become a home run threat in the offense. He displayed excellent hands as a receiver out of the backfield in training camp. And while his preseason rushing stats (23 yards and a touchdown on eight carries) and pass protection won't wow anyone, Brooks has looked confident while rushing into contact.
Brooks, if available for Week 1, is likely to be used as a change-of-pace partner for Hubbard -- who is more of a traditional north-south runner -- throughout drives.
The Panthers aren't likely to have an even workload split right away, but Hubbard and Brooks will share reps in the backfield immediately, depending on the latter's health. If Brooks can make big plays early and prove his durability in the first month of the season, he could become the top back in the rotation soon enough.
AJ Dillon | Age: 28
2025 stats: 60 rushing yards on 12 carries (5.0 yards per carry); three catches for 21 yards (7 yards per catch)
Recent injury history: Neck stingers in 2023 and 2024 (he missed entire 2024 season)
Dillon entered camp as a long shot after a forgettable one-year stint with the Eagles in 2025. Dillon -- who missed the entire 2024 season with the Green Bay Packers with a neck injury -- played in seven games for the Eagles, and he was a healthy scratch for the other 10 games.
However, during the Panthers' preseason, Dillon proved his worth as a receiver, runner and special teams asset. Dillon ran 14 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns and caught eight passes for 75 yards. He also played 10 snaps on special teams, as he was used as a wing blocker on the punt team.
Dillon could be used occasionally on third down as a short-yardage back, especially with the Panthers opposing QB sneaks with quarterback Bryce Young. He could also be used on third down as a blocker and receiver out of the backfield. That said, it's worth noting that Canales, historically, has rarely used his third back on offense when his top two options have been healthy and available.
Practice squad options: Anthony Tyus III, Ahmani Marshall
Tyus spent all of last season on the practice squad before returning to Carolina for the offseason program and training camp. He produced 127 rushing yards and a lost fumble on a team-leading 31 carries in the preseason; he also caught all five of his targets for 24 yards and a touchdown.
Marshall was added to the roster last week. He previously played for the Cleveland Browns, who waived him during the cut-down deadline last month. Marshall appeared in all three preseason games for Cleveland, producing 46 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards and a touchdown catch on 29 total touches. A 2025 undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, the Winston-Salem native has yet to appear in a regular-season game.
