CHARLOTTE — This is not the first time Chuba Hubbard has celebrated a teammate at his position.

This is a man who was drafted to be Christian McCaffrey's backup and watched him go off, and stepped in and went for his first 100-yard game in Philadelphia when McCaffrey was injured in 2021.

This is a man who paired with D'Onta Foreman to drop 320 rushing yards on the Lions here in 2022, when Foreman had 21 carries for 165, and he had 12 for 125 in the same game.

So seeing Rico Dowdle, the guy at the locker next door, winning NFC offensive player of the week honors isn't a cause for concern for Hubbard; it's a cause for celebration.

Hubbard was asked Wednesday if there was a worry about what it might mean for his future, and he just made a face like to was a foreign concept.

"I don't even think like that," Hubbard said. "Obviously, Rico had an amazing game, one of the best games ever. And for me, seeing a guy that works his ass off, works day in and day out, get that opportunity and do what he did. I mean, all I have is happiness for him."

Hubbard was the first guy grabbing Dowdle in the locker room when he was getting game balls to celebrate his 234 yards from scrimmage day against the Dolphins, calling it a moment of "pure joy."

So Wednesday's announcement was almost anticlimactic for them.

"Yeah, coach brought it up in the team meeting, and I mean we all kind of figured, I mean if they didn't give it to him, that's bulls---, to be honest," Hubbard said. "He definitely deserved it and more, so like I said, just happy to see him get his flowers."

Dowdle could have another week to catch the bouquet, because Hubbard didn't practice on Wednesday because of the calf injury that opened the door for Dowdle to get all the reps last week. But Hubbard was on the practice field 45 minutes before practice started, as usual, and he was going through his normal routine of loosening up and catching, and he was back to his normal spot in the middle of the defense during the team stretch. So he's obviously feeling better and looks forward to getting back on the field soon. And having lived this life for five years now, he knows that having a deep room helps everyone, from Trevor Etienne to DeeJay Dallas to the lot of them.

"I think one thing you can never be mad about is having a talented RB room," Hubbard said. "I think there are ways to complement each other. Also, I think that you know there are moments like this where one guy goes down and another guy needs to step up. And just Rico, Trevor, and the rest of the guys, DJ even coming in, everyone just filled in and did a great job.

"So seeing everyone kind of come together and do that, it's a good feeling to see that and obviously get a win."

That's obviously the goal, which is why none of them seem particularly fussed about what the rotation might look like when Hubbard returns. In the first four games when they were both available, which included 276 total snaps, Hubbard took 177 of them (64.1 percent) and Dowdle 97 (35.1 percent).

That's the basic trend, but there have been wrinkles throughout the season, including the win over Atlanta, when Hubbard played 36 of the 58 and Dowdle played 23 of the 58. Even sports writer math knows that means they were out there together, expanding the universe of possibilities.

So, between the realities of a long season and the fact that they're genuinely rooting for each other, Dowdle just shrugged when asked if it would be tough to go back to getting backup snaps when Hubbard returns, just as Hubbard did when asked the inverse of the same question.

"Only thing I can control is coming in here and put my best foot forward each day," Dowdle said. "And, like I said, two is better than one; we know for sure we've got two guys that can go out there and do it."

For his part, head coach Dave Canales is all smiles when asked about any of it.

"It's a great feeling for me; I look down at the call sheet, I don't have to worry about who's in there," he said. "And Trevor, he's done a great job as well when he's got his opportunities to run the ball. But to know that we have two solid backs that we love and it just allows us to just continue to play our brand of football, and know that we get a fresh set of legs in there that can execute, so it's a great feeling for me you know and we'll figure out how to use both guys when when that time comes."

Again, that time might not come this week, despite Hubbard's best efforts. Canales said they'd make the best decision for each player and the team in that regard, so there's a chance Dowdle's in the lead role again this week.

And he loves the opportunity, since he's on a one-year contract and this is a chance to show people last year's 1,000-yard season in Dallas was no fluke. But he also has an abiding respect for Hubbard, and has since he walked in the door in March and met him.

"He works like no other," Dowdle said of Hubbard. "First guy in the building, last guy out, definitely one of a kind, great dude for sure, but work ethic like I've never seen before."

Again, this kind of arrangement is nothing new for the Panthers, who rode Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster to a Super Bowl (and to an NFC Championship Game in 2005 with Nick Goings mixed in), and watched DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart each go for 1,100 yards in 2009, and a Stewart/Cam Newton/Mike Tolbert backfield go to another Super Bowl in 2015.

This is in the franchise's DNA, which is why everyone is just enjoying it and not worrying about division of labor in the future.

Young said watching Dowdle break tackles en route to 206 rushing yards was a joy for him, looking at it from his spot on the field.

"I mean, getting yards after contact, stuff like that, turning a 4 into a 10, turning a 15 into a whatever it may be, it is cool," Young said. "I kind of feel like I get a unique perspective. Like all the running backs, it's like I get to watch the end zone copy of film live. So it's really cool to see and obviously this past weekend, watching Rico, Trevor too, but watching him have an amazing day. It was a lot of fun for me."

And when Hubbard returns, that opens the door for the possibility of even more fun.

"I just know that they're great people," Young said. "They're people that are always rooting each other on, always working, always doing the right things, always doing the little things. So you know from my perspective, from the perspective of the entire team, we're all grateful that we get to work with those guys, so they're great for the locker room."

And for each other.