Panthers place Canadian running back Chuba Hubbard on season-ending IR with strained calf

Chuba Hubbard's season is over.

The Panthers placed their leading rusher on injured reserve Saturday with a strained calf.

The Canadian was limited in practice on Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team.

Hubbard ran for a career-high 1,195 yards — the fourth-most in franchise history — and 10 touchdowns this season. He is sixth in the league in yards rushing.

159 yards shy of Canadian record

The 25-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., became just the second Canadian to break the 1,000-yard rushing threshold in an NFL campaign.

Rueben Mayes, of North Battleford, Sask., was the first in 1986 when he recorded a career-high 1,353 yards as a rookie with the New Orleans Saints.

That total also stands as a single-season rushing high for a Canadian playing in the NFL.

The six-foot-one, 210-pound Hubbard, currently sixth among NFL rushers, needed 159 yards over Carolina's final two games to surpass Mayes's mark.

Hubbard becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks.

The move likely means Mike Boone will start Sunday against Tampa Bay, with Raheem Blackshear expected to see reps as well.

Hubbard finished his season last week by running for 152 yards and two touchdowns, including a 21-yard score in overtime as the Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 36-30. He was named NFC offensive player of the week.

He also caught 43 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown this season.