Rico Dowdle took the NFL by storm early in the season while filling in for the injured Chuba Hubbard.
For a while, it looked like Dowdle would remain the Carolina Panthers' featured back the rest of the campaign.
But in the Wild Card Round on Saturday, it was Hubbard getting most of the work for the Panthers in their narrow defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.
It can't be how Dowdle wanted things to end. On a one-year contract, he spent the year potentially impressing his free agent suitors.
He didn't seem happy after Saturday's game about how things changed down the stretch:
At this rate, it would be surprising to see Dowdle back in Carolina. This always felt like a one-year ordeal with Brooks out. He made the most of it, but I don’t imagine him returning. He’ll certainly get paid elsewhere. Https://t.co/bsOaX5yRKf
— Jared Feinberg (@Jared_NFLDraft) January 11, 2026
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Dowdle, through no real fault of his own, may be looking at a similar offseason to last year.
A year ago, he surpassed 1,000 yards for the Dallas Cowboys, but they didn't want him back, so he had to settle for a backup contract with the Panthers.
Now, after his one-year deal in Carolina, Dowdle again might be on the open market.
Free agency for running backs isn't particular great in this era, but Dowdle has proven he can perform when on the field. He'll just have to count on someone giving him another chance.
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