North Charlotte Today

Chuba Hubbard, a running back for the Carolina Panthers, found himself in an unexpected situation during a game at Munich's Allianz Arena. Known for his consistent playing style, Hubbard encountered a missing piece of equipment during his pre-game routine—a Jugs machine. This mechanical device used for passing practice didn't make it to the field, leaving Hubbard to improvise by catching passes from team staff members Mack Whitehurst and Greg Almond.

"My guys told me before, and I wasn't too happy, to be honest, but we improvised and made it work," Hubbard commented after the Panthers' 20-17 overtime victory against the Giants. Despite these initial hurdles, he celebrated a career-high 153 rushing yards and marked his seventh touchdown of the season.

The absence of the Jugs machine was emblematic of Hubbard's ability to adapt and overcome challenges throughout his career with the Panthers. The team had struggled with a 1-7 start but managed to secure two consecutive wins. This resilience was further underscored by Hubbard's recent four-year contract extension, which he described as "life-changing."

Quarterback Bryce Young praised Hubbard's performance: "When you have a back like that, an O-line that you can lean on in the run game, that's huge... Chuba played amazing, as he always does."

Head coach Dave Canales echoed this sentiment: "It's the consistency of the guy. He showed up again and ran hard... We found some wins in there and we were able to finish the ball running it like we wanted to."

Hubbard faced another challenge during the game when he slipped on Munich's grass surface but credited it with potentially saving him from injury. Despite briefly fumbling due to being dragged down from behind, he returned in full force later in the game.

"I mean, I kind of buckled my knee earlier... So I'm going to say thanks for that," Hubbard remarked about the slick surface.

After helping set up Eddy Piñeiro's game-winning field goal following his return to play, Canales expressed relief at seeing Hubbard recover quickly: "But it was great to see him do some checks and balances and get up on his feet..."

Reflecting on an eventful week involving international travel and professional achievements, Hubbard expressed gratitude: "To have this kind of impact is definitely a blessing... So, to win in that fashion... feels good..."

Hubbard remains optimistic about continuing success with his team: "I've been saying it... just keep trusting the process..."