Report: Panthers will officially be down key weapon vs. Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have a very winnable game against the Carolina Panthers looming, and a recent injury update will likely make life a little easier this weekend for a Dolphins defense that is trying to turn its season around.

One of the Panthers’ premier offensive players, running back Chuba Hubbard, is going to miss Sunday’s game due to a calf injury.

Hubbard has been Carolina’s top threat on the ground through the team’s opening four games of the season. He has 217 rushing yards to his name while no other Panther has triple digits. Fellow running back Rico Dowdle is a distant second place on the team with 83 rushing yards.

Even with Hubbard on the field this season, the Panthers have had one of the worst rushing offenses in all of football. Only six teams are averaging fewer rushing yards per contest up to this point. Now that Hubbard will be on the shelf against Miami, all signs point to the Panthers being especially weak in the running game on Sunday.

But the injury update on Hubbard is just one reason why the Dolphins should be able to pick up their second win of the season on Sunday. The Panthers have also lost three of their opening four games and are on the heels of a completely disastrous defensive performance.

Against a New England Patriots team that isn’t exactly renowned for having an elite offense, Carolina allowed 42 points, and New England scored 21 points in the second quarter of that game alone. The Panthers’ defense put together easily one of the most porous showings of any defense so far this season.

A win over the Panthers would signify the Dolphins’ second victory in a row and aid them in their hopes of getting back in the playoff race. However, Miami will have a tough game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 12 after taking on the Panthers. Los Angeles has a 3-1 record as well as a stingy defense.