On this page
Carolina Panthers Running Back Christian McCaffrey Out for Weeks with Hamstring Injury
Introduction
On Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 the Carolina Panthers young and explosive starting running back, Christian McCaffrey, came up limping after a play during the Carolina Panthers Thursday Night Football game against the Houston Texans from NRG Stadium located in Houston, Texas. The Carolina Panthers defeated the Houston Texans in that match – up with a final score of 24 to 9, and the Carolina Panthers have gotten off to a great start with an overall record of 3 and 0 to the beginning of the 2021 – 2022 season of the National Football League.
McCaffrey was forced to leave the Thursday Night Football game against the Houston Texans early in the second quarter after he pulled up limping following a 2 – yard rushing attempt due to a strained hamstring injury. On Friday, September 24th, 2021 the Carolina Panthers and their head coach Matt Rhule expressed to the media that Christian will have to miss at least a few weeks of football activities while he recovers from this recent injury.
Currently there are only two players in the entire National Football League that produce over 40 % of their team’s offensive output, and they are Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans and Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers. Right now, the Carolina Panthers are decided whether or not to place the Pro Bowl running back on the injured reserve list or not as he continues to undergo more testing to fully determine the severity of his strained hamstring.
Temporarily Replacing Christian McCaffrey’s Running Back Spot on the Team Roster
At the moment the Carolina Panthers can use either the rookie running back, Chuba Hubbard, as well as the veteran rusher in Royce Freeman. Hubbard came out of Oklahoma State University, and he was a fourth – round draft selection of the Carolina Panthers earlier this year in the 2021 NFL Draft. Chuba is expected to start the next game for the Carolina Panthers when they take on the Dallas Cowboys this weekend from AT&T Stadium located in Arlington, Texas.
Hubbard and Freeman finished last Thursday’s game at the running back position for the Carolina Panthers as they destroyed the Houston Texans. Chuba had 52 – yards on 11 rushing attempts as well as 3 catches for 27 receiving yards. Royce gained 17 – yards on his five carries for the Carolina Panthers offense.
The Carolina Panthers are also working out the former Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans free agent running back, Duke Johnson, on Friday to see if they would like to sign him to the Carolina Panthers team roster in order to create more solid depth at the running back position for the Carolina Panthers at least until McCaffrey is able to return to the team hopefully in a few weeks from now.
Media Statements
"They are still doing a bunch of diagnostic testing, so I can't tell you if that is one, two, three or four weeks," the Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule explained. He goes on to say, "It breaks my heart seeing these guys work so hard and get hurt. We're a better football team (this year)."
When asked if the Carolina Panthers are able to sustain their success without Christian McCaffrey, the Carolina Panthers left tackle Cameron Erving stated, "We're a football team. We're not the Carolina Christian McCaffreys."
"Obviously, we want him back," the Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Sam Darnold expressed. "But I want him to take his time right now and make sure he's good for the end of the season."
“Tough times never last, tough people do. I hate I can’t be out there having fun but I know the guys gonna hold it down. Thank you all who wish me well. I will be back stronger! I can’t wait to be back doing what I love! Let’s keep the ball rollin! #KeepPounding #TheChosen1,” Jaycee Horn tweeted.
Christian McCaffrey’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
Although it is fairly early on during his long and promising career in the National Football League, these are the achievements, honors, and awards that Christian McCaffrey has already accomplished as of Friday, September 24th, 2021: he was named to the NFL’s First - Team All - Pro in 2019, he was named to the NFL’s Second - Team All - Pro in 2018, he was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in 2019, he won the Paul Hornung Award in 2015, he won the Jet Award in 2015,
He was named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year in 2015, he was a Consensus All - American in 2015, he was named the Pac - 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, and he was named 2 - times to the First - Team All – Pac - 12 in 2015 as well as 2016.
Sources:
“Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey out a few weeks with hamstring injury”, David Newton, espn.com, September 23, 2021.
“Christian McCaffrey”, pro-football-reference.com, September 24, 2021.