The Carolina Panthers hosted the Miami Dolphins in Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season. The Panthers entered the game 1-3, and outside of a shut out of the Atlanta Falcons, had looked bad the entire season.
To add injury to insult, starting running back Chuba Hubbard was ruled out ahead of the game due to a calf injury. Without Hubbard, the Panthers were going to have to lean on their depth chart, starting with backup running back Rico Dowdle. Although he is familiar with the area, having attended the University of South Carolina, he spent the early part of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.
When Dallas didn't pursue a big-name running back in free agency ahead of the 2024 season, Dowdle was the running back charged with leading the backfield. He impressed, rushing for 1,079 yards, easily demolishing his previous career high of 361 yards in 2023. The Cowboys let Dowdle walk in free agency and he signed with Carolina as a backup to Hubbard. He finally got a chance to lead the backfield in Week 5, and he didn't waste it.
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Here is more on how Dowdle fared in place of Hubbard in Week 5 against the Dolphins.
Rico Dowdle stats today
- Carries: 23
- Rushing Yards: 206
- Rushing TDs: 1
- Receptions: 3
- Receiving Yards: 28
- Receiving TDs: 0
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Panthers RB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Chuba Hubbard |
| 2 | Rico Dowdle |
| 3 | Trevor Etienne |
Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard attended Oklahoma State from 2017 to 2020. The Panthers drafted him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In November 2024, Hubbard signed a four-year, $33.2 million extension with $15 million guaranteed. The organization picked a good time to extend its star runner, as he had his best season of his young career, with 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Rico Dowdle
Panthers fans enjoy joking that any player who went to college in the Carolinas seemingly always has a home in Carolina, so it wasn't surprising that Dowdle ended up back home. It was surprising that, after his success in Dallas, he was unable to find a landing spot that would utilize him as a starter. Given his breakout performance against the Dolphins, you have to assume that when Hubbard is active, Dowdle will force more of a split backfield.
Trevor Etienne
Etienne is the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. After splitting time between Florida and Georgia over his college career, he has mainly been used on special teams early in his rookie year. However he did have four carries for 22 yards against the Dolphins in the fourth quarter when Dowdle was sidelined shortly with an injury.
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Panthers upcoming schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 6 | vs. Cowboys |
| 7 | at Jets |
| 8 | vs. Bills |
| 9 | at Packers |
| 10 | vs. Saints |