Panthers Work Out Duke Johnson As Christian McCaffrey Likely Out For A Few Weeks

It's apparently not enough for the Carolina Panthers to be 3-0 after smothering the Houston Texans on Thursday night. Now, the Panthers are apparently contemplating bringing in a veteran running back as well.

Interestingly, that player is Duke Johnson, who spent the previous two seasons with those very Texans. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Panthers worked out Johnson on Friday. He was released from the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad earlier this season.

Johnson, 28, may actually have a shot, given that star RB Christian McCaffrey injured his hamstring in Thursday's win. On the bright side, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that McCaffrey is only expected to miss a few weeks. So it's nothing overly serious.

Rookie Chuba Hubbard is likely to fill in for McCaffrey as the starter, but it would only make sense for the Panthers to want some depth at the spot, even if for just a few weeks.

Johnson has had his moments with the Texans and the Cleveland Browns before that. He's a back who can catch passes and be efficient as a rusher. But he really struggled last season, gaining a mere 235 yards on 77 carries.

Still, he seems like a serviceable backup, and that is really all the Panthers will need at this point. Otherwise, things have been going swimmingly along.