Panthers Face Trade Question as Losing Streak Grows
ESPN's Ben Solak asked whether Carolina could move running back Chuba Hubbard if the team falls to 3-5.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football
ESPN analyst Ben Solak asked on Tuesday whether the Carolina Panthers would trade running back Chuba Hubbard. The question was raised as the Panthers sit at 3-4 through Week 8.
Why it matters
Charlotte fans follow the Panthers closely, and a trade of a starting back would reshape the offense before the season's midpoint. The question shows how quickly trade speculation can build after a difficult stretch.
The Panthers are 3-4 through Week 8, with the NFL trade deadline set for Nov. 10. Hubbard's contract runs through the 2028 season, and no trade has been reported.
The players
Ben Solak
Solak is an ESPN analyst who covers the NFL and posed the trade question about Hubbard.
Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard is a Carolina Panthers running back under contract through the 2028 season.
The details
Solak's question appeared in an ESPN blurb previewing possible running back trades in the coming week. He wrote that Hubbard might move if Carolina falls to 3-5 after its Week 9 home game against the Denver Broncos.
Timeline
Tuesday morning (Nov. 3): Solak posts the trade question in an ESPN blurb.
Week 9 (Sunday): Panthers host the Denver Broncos.
Nov. 10: NFL trade deadline.
Season Trajectory
Trade speculation like this typically surfaces only when a team is struggling before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10. The Panthers' 3-4 record leaves them with a narrow window to change course before the deadline passes.
If Carolina falls to 3-5 after the Denver game, the trade question could become a live roster decision before Nov. 10. Fantasy managers holding Hubbard should watch the Week 9 backfield usage closely.
The takeaway
Trade rumors tend to follow losing records, so the Panthers' Week 9 result against Denver will likely decide whether this speculation fades or grows. Readers tracking the Panthers should watch the Nov. 10 deadline.
What happens next
The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10, and the Panthers host Denver in Week 9.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage across Charlotte.
