The Carolina Panthers saw a changing of the guard at the running back position this season.
After beginning the year with Chuba Hubbard as the starter, Rico Dowdle snatched the job from him while Hubbard was out due to injury, and he hasn't looked back.
That said, Dowdle is off to a quiet start in the wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday.
Here's what's going on.
Is Rico Dowdle playing today?
UPDATE: Dowdle finished the first half with just four carries for nine yards and the Panthers are deploying Hubbard to start the second half. Hubbard's increased usage has greatly limited Dowdle's opportunities on Saturday.
UPDATE: After four drives, it's pretty clear that the Panthers prefer Hubbard over Dowdle in this game. We can't say for sure why that is, though, but it stinks for Dowdle's chances of producing significant numbers.
Yes, Dowdle is active and healthy, but he only has one touch through three drives.
The Panthers' offense has been dreadful overall, so it's no surprise to see Dowdle off to a poor start. Carolina has also been utilizing Hubbard a bit more than usual early on.
Hopefully Dowdle gets going soon because the Panthers' offense is simply better when he's playing at a high level.
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