Panthers Ready to Roll With ‘2-Headed Monster’ of Hubbard, Dowdle

Rico Dowdle went on a historic tear in two games filling in for Hubbard, with 389 rushing yards and 473 scrimmage yards.

Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers runs for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

For the Carolina Panthers, getting running back Chuba Hubbard back is a good problem to have.

In the two weeks since Hubbard went down with a calf injury, Rico Dowdle went on an absolute tear, with nearly 400 rushing yards and nearly 500 yards from scrimmage. Hubbard is set to return this week against the New York Jets. Speaking to reporters in the locker room Wednesday, both Hubbard and Dowdle said it will be a good thing to have them both in the backfield.

“I’ve said it week in and week out, I’ve been itching to get back out there,” Hubbard said. “Obviously, everybody from the offensive line, tight ends, receivers, of course Rico, [quarterback] Bryce [Young], everyone’s just done a great job. So I’m glad to be back.”

Dowdle made the most of his opportunity to be the feature back in Hubbard’s absence. Against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 5, Hubbard carried the ball 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown; he added 3 receptions for 28 yards. Against his former team—the Dallas Cowboys—last week, Dowdle carried the ball 30 times for 183 yards, and added 4 catches for 56 yards and a score. That adds up to 389 rushing yards and 473 yards from scrimmage. His performance against the Cowboys set the franchise record for scrimmage yards in a single game; he also became the first player with back-to-back 200-yard games since 2020, and the first undrafted player to do so since 1970.

“To be honest, none of this really surprised me,” Hubbard said of Dowdle’s historic stretch. “Rico is a great player. I mean, amazing player. He’s shown it throughout camp. Every time he’s been here, he works hard. The opportunity came; he made the most of it.”

Now that Hubbard is back, the offensive coaching staff will have to divvy up the carries between him, Dowdle, and rookie Trevor Etienne.

“I mean, I can’t say what it’s going to look like exactly or how it’s going to be. I’m not the coach,” said Hubbard. “But obviously two great backs. Anytime you can put us on the field, let’s do it. Obviously, we have some young guys as well that are doing a great job, Trevor. I think we joke about it sometimes, saying ‘have a three-back set’ or something like that, but stuff like that would be fun. No doubt.”

Both Hubbard and Dowdle have experience splitting carries. Hubbard formed a tandem with D'Onta Foreman in his second year in the NFL in 2022. Foreman was the lead back, carrying the ball 203 times for a career-high 914 yards and 5 touchdowns, with 5 receptions for 26 yards; Hubbard had 95 carries for 466 yards and 2 scores, along with 14 receptions for 171 yards.

With the Dallas Cowboys last season, Dowdle shared carries with Ezekiel Elliott. But Dowdle eventually usurped the veteran Elliott and had career highs in every major stat: 235 touches for 1,079 yards and 2 TDs; along with 39 catches for 249 yards and 3 TDs.

Dowdle said that splitting carries would benefit them both.

“I think it’s going to allow for us both to be fresh throughout the whole game,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve seen the past two games; I’ve cramped up late in the game. So, I definitely think it will help. And like I said, a two-headed monster is better than one. So, we'll be fresh.”

Dowdle also said that he, Hubbard, and Etienne are all close, so there would be no hard feelings between them.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s weird. You know, when you go out there and perform and have two good games like that, of course it’s going to be the question, but like I said, it’s all up to the coaches about what goes on. And obviously, Chuba’s been here and he’s got his contract and things like that, and it’s been his team from the jump. So, [they’ve] got to just take all that into account for sure,” he said.

Hubbard signed a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension last season.

Dowdle said it would be difficult to get into a rhythm because they rely on more reps to do it, but with the way the offensive line has been playing, he had no doubt they would all be able to get into a rhythm.