CHARLOTTE — Chuba Hubbard is aware of the narrative. He's heard the talk and seen the numbers, and he knows there is a conversation to be had when it comes to the division of carries between him and Rico Dowdle.

"Obviously, this has been a topic of conversation for the last few weeks," Hubbard admitted Monday, following the Panthers' Week 8 game against the Bills.

The conversation centers around the split of work between the two 1,000-yard running backs. Hubbard began the season as the incumbent starter in the backfield and held that role through the first four weeks. Then, during the Panthers' Week 4 game, he suffered a calf injury that sidelined him for two weeks.

During that time, Dowdle took over and posted back-to-back weeks of 200-plus yards from scrimmage, setting a new franchise record in the process, as well as working his way into the Top 5 in the league in rushing.

Despite splitting carries with Hubbard since his return, Dowdle has accumulated enough yards to stay in the Top 5 (with Monday night games still to play) with 605 total rushing yards. But over the last two weeks, Dowdle's numbers have dropped to 79 yards and 54 yards, respectively, leading to the inevitable question: Should the timeshare between these two backs cease, and more carries go to the hot hand?

The conversation prompted Dave Canales to say on Monday that he can't ignore Dowdle's production and that it will lead the game plan this week as the Panthers prepare to face the top team in the NFC, the Packers.

"Chuba has meant a lot to this organization, certainly to the identity that we want to build our team on," Canales said Monday. "And wanted to give Chuba the opportunity to go out there and to continue to impact our team in a positive way.

"We cannot ignore the fact that Rico has been exceptional in a couple of games and then in the opportunities he's had over the last two weeks.

So what does that mean for Hubbard, the de facto work ethic leader of the Carolina Panthers?

Well, as far as the game goes, the mindset stays the same.

"I mean, whatever, whether it's 70/30, 50/50, 100 my way or Rico's way, whatever it is, my focus is winning," Hubbard promised. "My main focus is never solely about me. It's always about the team and winning games."

And as far as his famous preparation goes, this topic of conversation and the subsequent decisions it can lead to will change nothing.

"To be honest, I mean, you guys have obviously known me for the last four or five years. I'm someone who prides myself on work, work, work, work," said Hubbard.

"Everything I do—I'm a man of faith, a follower of Christ, and whatever my journey comes with, I take the good and the bad. So, in moments like this, I just continue to work. I've been through worse days and worse things, and people have scrutinized me for stuff all five years I've been here.

"But, one thing is, I just pride myself on my work, like I said, and also just helping us get wins here. So, I do whatever it takes and just continue with that mindset."

It's a mindset that Hubbard—who has 282 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus 118 receiving yards with two receiving touchdowns—also maintains helps shape the entire running back room with him, Dowdle, rookie Trevor Etienne, DeeJay Dallas, and even Jonathon Brooks, who is recovering from an ACL injury; regardless of who is getting the first snap, the last snap, or the majority of snaps.

"I don't think relationships or anything have changed," assured Hubbard. "They never do. We all are just committed to winning and doing the best that we can do to help the team win. So at the end of the day, we're all brothers. We've all worked together, been with each other for some time now. So, regardless of everything else going on, we're still a tight-knit group."

The calf that initially sidelined Hubbard feels healed, he shared on Monday, telling reporters he had his feet back under him, and "I felt like this past week, I had a great week of practice. I felt in the game I was making the cuts, running hard. I've got to keep stacking the weeks now."

Stacking those weeks might look a little different now than Hubbard or the Panthers would have imagined at the beginning of the season. But the run game is about two things: the hot hand and consistency. Right now, the former seems to be Rico Dowdle. So, Chuba Hubbard will stay focused on the latter.

"Like I said, I pride myself on my work," said Hubbard. "And just helping my team get what needs to be done. And whatever that looks like, you know, I've always been committed to that since I've been in Carolina. So that's where my mind is."