Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers star RB Christian McCaffrey returns to practice ahead of Eagles game

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/6/21

The plan earlier this week was for Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey to test the injured hamstring that kept him out of Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys during Wednesday's practice.

As Darin Gantt noted for the club's website, McCaffrey was back on the practice field for the first time since he experienced his latest setback in the Sept. 23 win over the Houston Texans.

CMC is back at practice pic.twitter.com/5tuDySBjUT
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2021

Gantt added that McCaffrey's status for this Sunday's matchup against the 1-3 Philadelphia Eagles will likely remain up in the air until it's known how the 25-year-old responds to completing on-the-field work. Heading into the Houston game, McCaffrey led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and is now 13th in the league with 364 yards: 201 rushing and 163 receiving.

Rookie Chuba Hubbard started against Dallas in McCaffrey's place and accumulated 57 rushing yards on 13 carries as the Panthers fell to 3-1 on the season. Quarterback Sam Darnold rushed for a pair of touchdowns in that defeat.

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