Chuba Hubbard's stellar breakout season is unfortunately coming to an early end.
The Carolina Panthers have placed the star running back on the injured reserve with a calf and knee injury, ending his 2024 season.
It's not clear how or when the 25-year-old suffered the injury, but he practiced on Thursday in a limited capacity.
Hubbard had enjoyed his best season in the NFL up to this point, tallying 1,195 yards on the ground with 10 rushing touchdowns while adding 171 yards through the air with a receiving touchdown.
This was the first season that the Edmonton, Alta. native, who is in his fourth year in the league, had crossed the 1,000-yard threshold. He became just the second Canadian to do so.
Rueben Mayes, of North Battleford, Sask., was the first in 1986 when he recorded a career-high 1,353 yards as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints.
That total also stands as a single-season rushing high for a Canadian playing in the NFL.
The six-foot-one, 210-pound Hubbard, currently sixth among NFL rushers, needed 159 yards over Carolina's final two games to surpass Mayes's mark.
Last week, Hubbard rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns in leading Carolina to a 36-30 overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals, scoring the game-winning TD on a 21-yard run in the extra session.
Hubbard had been one of the big bright spots in a disappointing year for the 4-11 Panthers, who sit last in the NFC South. Carolina is set to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
-- With files from the Canadian Press
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.