A Missed Opportunity? The Panthers and Rico Dowdle.

I continue use the term "Rollercoaster Ride" to describe the 2025 season for the Carolina Panthers. One player who had a front row seat was running back Rico Dowdle.

Dowdle, an undrafted free agent who spent 4 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, was brought in last offseason on a 1 year deal. After his first career 1000 yard season with Dallas in 2024 his signing was a bit of a surprise to many Panther fans including me. Was Dowdle just a fill in for injured 2024 second round pick Jonathon Brooks, who missed all of 2025 with a torn ACL, or was he here for more? The Panthers just signed Chuba Hubbard to a 4 year deal in November of 2024 so we all had to wait and see how he would be used.

Through the first 4 games Dowdle only managed 28 carries for 83 yards and 1 touchdown, mainly coming in on third downs. That all changed when starter Chuba Hubbard went down with a calf injury and missed weeks 5 and 6. Those two weeks, Dowdle exploded for 206 yards against Miami followed by 183 yards against his former team Dallas.

The reason why I mentioned missed opportunity in the title is after those two monster games Chuba Hubbard returned to the lineup and head coach Dave Canales went to a shared running back system where Hubbard and Dowdle would alternate series starting in week 7 against the New York Jets. Dowdle did end up with the lions share of the carries for the rest of the season but I'm always going to wonder if this move stifled the momentum that the Panthers' run game accumulated in Hubbard's absence. Would it have benefited the team more to go with the hot hand in Dowdle and let Hubbard take a step back? Especially after Hubbard revealed that his calf injury kept him from being 100 percent after his return. Not feeling close to fully healthy until later in the season. Would the Panthers' rushing attack stayed consistent with more of a focus on Dowdle instead of their split series approach?

After the season ended Dowdle, who is a free agent said whatever team he signs with he wants to be the featured back and get the bulk of the workload. That doesn't seem too likely here in Carolina with Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks, who's expected to be healthy for the 2026 season and 2025 4th round pick Trevor Etienne making it a crowded backfield. One thing we know about this staff is that they are loyal to a fault in some aspects of the roster.

Let me know how you feel what is likely Dowdle's only year in Carolina and if things could've been different for the Panthers' run game. If the Panthers have a chance to bring Rico back would you want them to do it?

As always Panther Nation, Y'all Be Good, Be Safe and Keep Pounding Mayne!!!

Rico Dowdle - Missed Opportunity???

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