McCaffrey says he 'definitely' has shot to play Week 5

Christian McCaffrey's recovery from injury may be ahead of schedule.

The Carolina Panthers running back, who was expected to miss a few weeks after sustaining a hamstring ailment in Week 3, said Thursday he's feeling great and "definitely" has a chance to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.

Carolina opted not to place McCaffrey on injured reserve, which would've sidelined him for at least three weeks. Head coach Matt Rhule initially said he wasn't sure if McCaffrey would miss "one, two, three, or four weeks."

The 25-year-old rusher practiced in pads on a limited basis Wednesday for the first time since suffering the ailment. He was also limited during Thursday's session.

McCaffrey, who injured his hamstring on Thursday Night Football, said he "definitely" believes the short week was responsible for his ailment, according to Person.

Chuba Hubbard carried the rushing load for the Panthers against the Cowboys, notching 57 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Sam Darnold also helped his team on the ground with 35 yards and two touchdowns.

McCaffrey has amassed 364 total yards and one score this season. He led the league with 2,392 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns in 2019.

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