Breaking down the Panthers’ running back depth chart: Will it all be on Miles Sanders?

Panthers head coach Frank Reich doesn’t want to put the entire burden of the offensive backfield on one player.

During his time in Indianapolis — even when he had the 2021 rushing leader, Jonathan Taylor, running wild against defenses — Reich leaned on a rotation at the running back position. Taylor was supplemented by the likes of Nyheim Hines, Marlon Mack and Jordan Wilkins in the rotation, with each running back taking on a specific role — from gadget weapon to change-of-pace runner to short-yardage back.

“I love that — I really do — love the by-committee thing, different-role thing,” Reich said Thursday. “Like to involve everybody.”

Like Reich, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley have also favored backfield rotations during their careers. So, naturally, one could assume that the trio will follow that format in Carolina.

However, after signing Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders to a four-year, $25.4 million deal in free agency, the allocation of carries should skew heavily toward the former Philadelphia Eagles playmaker. And while returning running backs, Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear, flashed last season, they are going to need to prove themselves to the new staff to earn defined roles.

“Miles Sanders has looked good, and at this point, he’s our No. 1 guy,” Reich said. “But Chuba’s looked good, Raheem has looked good. The whole group has shown promise, so we’ll see how it continues to develop, but excited about the running back room.”

Below is the Panthers’ projected depth chart entering the final week of organized team activities:

Miles Sanders

Ht/Wt: 5-11, 211 lbs.

Career stats: 3,708 rushing yards (5.0 YPC), 20 rushing touchdowns; 942 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Sanders is coming off a career year with the reigning NFC champions in Philadelphia. After missing nine combined games from 2020-21, Sanders was able to stay healthy last season, playing in all 17 games and producing 1,269 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Following his first Pro Bowl campaign, Sanders reunited with Staley, his position coach from 2019-20, in Carolina after cashing in during free agency.

While Sanders was the focal point of the Eagles’ running game for all four of his seasons with the NFC East squad, he never eclipsed 260 carries in a season. He was part of a rotation throughout his time in Philadelphia, which allowed him to manage his workload and play to his strengths.

Sanders was a standout pass-catcher out of the backfield as a rookie, but that ability waned during his final three seasons with the Eagles. With that in mind, Sanders focused mostly on early down plays as a runner, and his counterparts, Kenny Gainwell and Boston Scott, handled a lot of the passing-down work and short-yardage situations, respectively.

With Sanders now being paid a heavy salary, he will be counted on to anchor the Panthers’ running game. But Staley knows Sanders as well as anyone, and he won’t put his longtime pupil in spots that expose his weaknesses.

Sanders has a history of knee and hamstring injures, so the staff will want to manage his workload when it can. Sanders — if he stays healthy — should see career highs in snaps and carries in Carolina this season, but it’d be unfair to project him as a be-all, end-all workhorse in the Panthers backfield.

The Panthers need the other running backs to carve out roles this summer.

Chuba Hubbard

Ht/Wt: 6-1, 210 lbs.

Career stats: 1,078 rushing yards (4.0 YPC), seven rushing touchdowns; 345 receiving yards and a one receiving touchdown

Hubbard did a nice job during the second half of last season. His skill set is ideal for a change-of-pace role, as he has improved his passing-game prowess — as both a blocker and a receiver — since entering the league. If Sanders goes down due to injury or just needs some rest, Hubbard should be the next man up.

Hubbard is versatile, cheap and can return kickoffs. While there might be better options out there, Hubbard is a palatable role player who fits in nicely behind Sanders, especially if the Panthers don’t want to spend more at the position.

Raheem Blackshear

Ht/Wt: 5-9, 194 lbs.

Career stats: 77 rushing yards (3.3 YPC) and three rushing touchdowns; 93 receiving yards

Blackshear is probably the closest comparison to Hines on the Carolina roster.

While he’s probably not going to get heavy carries, Blackshear is an interesting gadget player who can keep the opposing defense on its toes. And like Hines, Blackshear has return upside on special teams.

The Panthers are likely to use Blackshear on passing downs, similar to Hines. The offense can utilize Blackshear as a mismatch or decoy weapon as well, as he is a threat to outrace linebackers and safeties in the flat and with Texas routes out of the backfield.

Spencer Brown

Ht/Wt: 6-0; 220 lbs.

Career stats: 43 rushing yards (4.8 YPC); 10 receiving yards

Brown flashed a bit during fill-in duty last season. While he’s not the quickest back on the depth chart, he has the body type to take on the short-yardage role within the rotation. Brown is competing to force the Panthers to keep four running backs this season.

With Sanders, Hubbard and Blackshear drawing praise from Reich, that trio appears to be at the top of the depth chart at the position. Brown will need to excel on offense and special teams during the preseason to earn a role on the 53-man roster.

Camerun Peoples

Ht/Wt: 6-2, 225 lbs.

Career stats: N/A

Peoples, an undrafted rookie, is competing with Brown for snaps and a role on offense. The Appalachian State alum needs to show that his big frame can lead to big plays out of the backfield. While he was a star player for his college squad, Peoples needs to adjust to being lower on the depth chart and not receiving the bulk of the carries at the position.

Peoples has unique size and strength at the position. If he can make the most of those traits, he could force his way onto the roster.