Carolina’s backfield needs clarity, not committee politics.
The Panthers have a choice to make. Scratch that—had a choice. Because if you’ve been watching the games, it’s obvious who the better running back is. Rico Dowdle needs to be Carolina’s starter. Not next week. Not situationally. Now.
This isn’t a knock on Chuba Hubbard. He’s been a reliable role player, a solid rotational guy. But he’s not the kind of back who can change a game. He doesn’t keep defensive coordinators up at night. Rico Dowdle does. He’s faster. He’s tougher. He sees holes Hubbard doesn’t. He finishes runs. And most importantly—he produces.
When Hubbard was sidelined, Dowdle didn’t just fill in—he thrived. He hit the hole with purpose. He turned routine carries into chunk plays. He brought life to a sleepwalking offense. It wasn’t just a “hot hand.” It was a clear upgrade. He looked like a lead back because he is a lead back.
And yet, when Hubbard returned, head coach Dave Canales slid Dowdle right back into a timeshare. Business as usual. Split carries. Shared snaps. Committee backfield. Why? Because of politics. Because Canales is trying to keep the locker room calm, keep the veteran happy, and manage expectations. That might work in a drama-free rebuild. But this team isn’t in that position. They’re trying to salvage a season. They need to win now.
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Hubbard hasn’t done enough to keep that job. His yards per carry is down. He’s not creating explosive plays. Defenses aren’t afraid of him. He’s reliable, yes—but predictable. And in today’s NFL, predictable doesn’t win games.
Dowdle, on the other hand, gives Carolina something different. Juice. Urgency. Power. When he’s on the field, the energy changes. The offensive line blocks harder. The play-action opens up. Defenses hesitate. It’s not just about numbers. It’s about impact. Dowdle makes defenders miss. He gets yards after contact. He runs angry. That matters.
It’s time for Canales to stop managing the optics and start managing the scoreboard. The best coaches reward performance. They ride the hot hand. They don’t rotate just because the depth chart says they should. If you’re serious about winning, you go with the guy who gives you the best shot. Right now, that guy is Rico Dowdle.
Look at the rest of the league. Do you think teams like the 49ers are splitting touches just to keep backups happy? No. They feed their bell cow. They let him set the tone. Dowdle has earned that chance. Every game he’s in, he proves it.
And here’s the truth Canales needs to face: the offense doesn’t have time for committee politics. Bryce Young is still developing. The margin for error is razor-thin. You can’t afford to waste downs with an underperforming back just to “keep things fair.” You need a difference-maker in the backfield. And you’ve already got one.
No more hedging. No more even splits. No more pretending there’s a real debate. Start Rico Dowdle. Build the run game around him. And stop making this harder than it needs to be.
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