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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle can't wait for Week 16. That's when the Carolina Panthers travel to Acrisure Stadium. Dowdle remains eager to reacquaint himself with his former teammates.
The Panthers' leading rusher with 1,076 yards last season, general manager Dan Morgan, committed to RB1 Chuba Hubbard, allowed Dowdle to pursue his free-agent options. Dowdle, who carried the Panthers to their lone three-game winning streak last season by amassing 468 combined yards during Weeks 5-7.
His usage waned toward the end of the regular season, collecting just one double-digit carry game over the final four outings. Dowdle's production bottomed out with just 10 yards on seven attempts during the regular-season finale loss. The Panthers (8-9) still clinched the NFC South title, but in the Wild Card defeat, Dowdle totaled nine yards on five carries.
He was clearly upset in the locker room after the postseason defeat.
"For me, I just want to be a guy that can go out there and just get the bulk (of carries)," Dowdle said Jan. 11 during locker-room clean-out day. "Trying to let it run. Like I said, my game shows that the more I get throughout the game, the stronger and better I get. So I just want to take that into consideration from how it played out the past couple weeks."
After agreeing to a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Steelers, Dowdle's attention shifted to the late December matchup. He received an early Christmas present.
"It's definitely circled, for sure," Dowdle said, as reported by The Charlotte Observer.
Panthers seek what Rico Dowdle delivered
Dowdle faced this situation before. During Week 6, the former South Carolina standout compiled 239 scrimmage yards, establishing an NFL record for a player competing against his former club. He also established a Panthers' standard for scrimmage yards in one game.
With Dowdle impatiently waiting for a chance to play the Panthers next winter, Morgan was left with the responsibility of rounding out the running back room. The run-first offense will need more than one running back.
Who will the Panthers turn to when Hubbard needs a break?
Morgan remains optimistic that 2024 second-round draft pick Jonathon Brooks, who sustained back-to-back right knee surgeries, will remain healthy after a full season of rehabilitation. Trevor Etienne, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick, is expected to compete with veteran AJ Dillon for the RB3 role, along with Anthony Tyus and undrafted free agent Miles Davis.
Dowdle opened 2025 as RB2, but earned the starter's role in Week 5.
Hubbard, who gained a career-best 1,195 yards in '24, compiled 511 rushing yards last season.
"Chuba's proven he can be a No. 1 back," Morgan said.
True, but will take the backup snaps?
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