Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers star running back, was enjoying a nice start to the 2021 season but left Week 3 against the Texans with a leg injury.
After starting the year strong, Christian McCaffrey appeared to be on his way to a big night for the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 against the Texans on Thursday Night Football. But after getting to 40 total yards in the first quarter, McCaffrey pulled himself out and went to the blue medical tent with an apparent injury.
Soon after, the Panthers announced that the Christian McCaffrey injury was a hamstring that he tweaked and that he was ruled out for the rest of the game in Houston.
Despite how good Sam Darnold and the Carolina defense have looked early in the year, the Panthers offense runs through McCaffrey. So losing the star running back is a huge blow.
Who is Christian McCaffrey’s backup with the Panthers?
Relieving McCaffrey in Week 3 against the Texans was rookie Chuba Hubbard. The Oklahoma State product was projected by some as a potential top-50 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. But a pedestrian final season in Stillwater ultimately led to him falling into fourth round where the Panthers selected him.
Still, the Pokes standout was the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year back in 2019 and rushed for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in that year. Though he had just 10 yards on eight carries in the NFL coming into this game, he’s clearly a talented young player.
How long will the Christian McCaffrey injury keep him out?
At this point, it’s hard to tell how long Christian McCaffrey will be sidelined with a hamstring injury beyond the rest of the matchup with the Texans. It is fortunate that it’s on a Thursday and, if the Panthers are being cautious, perhaps that increases the chances of him playing next week as he would get 10 days to recover.
With that said, McCaffrey missed 13 games a year ago with ankle and leg injuries. And with hamstring injuries being notorious for lingering, this is definitely an injury worth monitoring going forward.