NFL Running Back Rico Dowdle aims to demonstrate his capabilities as a starting player in the league, following his departure from the Dallas Cowboys
The Carolina Panthers are gearing up for a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns this Wednesday, but the real focus for the team lies with their running back rotation.
Rico Dowdle, who signed a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Panthers in March 2025, is expected to serve as the backup running back behind starter Chuba Hubbard. Despite being the second option, Dowdle is projected to have a substantial role in the Panthers’ offense due to his three-down skill set and strong receiving numbers, complementing Hubbard’s workload.
Dowdle’s 2024 campaign with the Dallas Cowboys included over 1,000 rushing yards and solid receiving stats, making him a valuable asset for Carolina’s backfield rotation. He replaces Jonathon Brooks as the Panthers’ RB2 after Brooks suffered a torn ACL and is out for the entire 2025 season.
Coach Dave Canales has expressed his excitement since the Panthers signed Dowdle, giving the team added depth in the backfield with a second 1,000-yard rusher. Trevor Etienne, a fourth-round draft pick from Georgia, has looked strong and fast in training camp, but Dowdle's late-season surge with the Cowboys and his three straight 100-yard rushing games could give him an edge in the competition for reps.
Dowdle, who hails from Asheville, North Carolina, and played college ball at South Carolina, is in a familiar position of having to prove himself, having come into the league as an undrafted rookie in 2020. He hopes that if all goes well, he can parlay his success into a big contract next spring.
The Panthers' offensive line is led by highly paid guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, providing Dowdle with a solid foundation to run behind. The team’s practices are expected to include full-contact drills and live hitting, despite the forecasted rain.
Dowdle is known for running the runs with discipline and violence, and if he can continue to impress, he could become a key player for the Panthers this season. Let's see how he performs in the joint practice with the Browns this Wednesday.
References:
- Panthers sign running back Rico Dowdle
- Panthers' Rico Dowdle ready to prove himself
- Rico Dowdle signs one-year deal with Panthers
- Panthers sign running back Rico Dowdle
- Dowdle signs one-year contract with Panthers
- In addition to preparing for the joint practice with the Cleveland Browns, the Carolina Panthers are confident about their running game, with newly signed Rico Dowdle anticipated to serve as Chuba Hubbard's backup.
- Rico Dowdle's performance with the Dallas Cowboys last season, including over 1,000 rushing yards and impressive receiving stats, makes him a valuable asset to the Panthers' running back rotation.
- As the NFL landscape expands beyond American football, the Panthers are not just focusing on the NFL; they have also added cricket and football, the latter with the addition of Rico Dowdle, to their sports portfolio.
