When Will Chuba Hubbard Return and Be Back? Fantasy Football Injury Update for Week 7 (2025)

by Aidin Ebrahimi

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When will Chuba Hubbard return and play? Will Chuba Hubbard be back again this season? Read the latest Chuba Hubbard injury updates and return date for Week 7 (2025).

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2. Chuba Hubbard Fantasy Football Outlook

3. Who Should I Start Tool

5. More Fantasy Football Analysis

Chuba Hubbard is quietly on his way to becoming one of the best Panthers running backs ever. Ever since he dislodged Miles Sanders as the Panthers' RB1 midway through the 2023 NFL season, Hubbard has racked up the ninth-most rushing yards among all players in the league (2,160).

He ranks fifth on the Panthers' all-time rushing list, and got off to a good start this season before suffering a calf strain. He initially played through the injury, but he has been sidelined for the last couple of weeks, with Rico Dowdle taking his place.

When will Hubbard return to action, and what is his fantasy football outlook when he does? Let's dive in.

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Chuba Hubbard Injury Update

After looking healthy for the first three weeks of the 2025 season, Hubbard suddenly popped up on the Panthers' injury report for Week 4, and his status was questionable for the game against the Patriots.

He knows Chuba is the TRUTH@KendraScott | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/oY9xQkogs8

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 21, 2025

Hubbard played in that game, but he only had 10 rushing attempts, and his snap count decreased to 50.7%. Despite the decreased workload, he reaggravated the injury and has not played or practiced with the team since then.

While there hasn't been much official news regarding Hubbard's Week 7 status, quarterback Bryce Young claimed he was "super confident" about Hubbard's return.

Last week, HC Dave Canales described Hubbard's status as "day-to-day".

Chuba Hubbard Fantasy Football Outlook

Hubbard got off to a great start this season, recording 166 yards from scrimmage and scoring two receiving touchdowns in the first two games of the year. He was the PPR RB7 during that span, racking up 36.6 PPR points.

Good morning Panther fans! Whatever you're going through this week just remember, you have rico dowdle and Chuba Hubbard as your back field! Have a good rest of the week! #KeepPounding

— Jonathan Stewart (@Jonathanstewar1) October 14, 2025

He also had a considerably higher snap share compared to Dowdle. Throughout the first four weeks, Hubbard's snap count stood at 64.1%, while Dowdle's was only at 35.1%. However, Hubbard's injury has changed everything.

Dowdle has been on a mission since Hubbard went down, putting up astonishing numbers. He has racked up 473 yards from scrimmage and has scored a rushing and receiving TD while helping his squad go 2-0.

While Dowdle's recent performances have been mesmerizing, this is unlikely to be the end for Hubbard. He signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension with the team in November of last year, and is still listed as the squad's RB1 on their depth chart.

Head coach Canales seems to be undecided for now, and the team might pivot toward a running back by committee approach.

"We're going to figure that part out," Canales said when asked about Dowdle becoming the team's RB1. "But I know Rico is doing a great job, and he will be a big part of what we're doing.'

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