What's Next for the Carolina Panthers Running Back Room in 2026?
The Carolina Panthers have found themselves in a peculiar position regarding running backs. The Panthers have produced a 1,000-yard rusher in back-to-back seasons. Head coach Dave Canales has no qualms about utilizing the run game, as both seasons have been under his play-calling. His first order of business in Carolina, along with new general manager Dan Morgan, went on a spending spree, overhauling the offensive line. Carolina went on a hot streak in 2025, with one of their offseason additions going off. As the season wound down, so did the Panthers' rushing attack. So what happened to a premier rushing team, and what does the 2026 season look like for the Panthers’ rushing attack?
The Breakout Back
Rico Dowdle signed a one-year prove-it deal worth two million dollars in the offseason. Dowdle started the season as the second running back in the pecking order. Chuba Hubbard, coming off his 1,000-yard rushing season, was cemented as the starter. Hubbard went down in Week Five with an injury, placing Dowdle as the lead back. The former Gamecock did not disappoint, setting the game on fire, putting up 206 rushing yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. He didn’t stop there, though, putting up 183 rushing yards on 30 carries in a revenge game against the Cowboys. Hubbard would return in Week Seven and would not miss another game. Hubbard and Dowdle would split carries the rest of the season, except for Week Nine, when Dowdle went off again for 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in an upset victory over the Panthers. From Week Nine on, Dowdle wouldn’t go for over 60 rushing yards or get more than 20 attempts for the rest of the season. Hubbard didn’t fare much better, only getting over 10 carries once in Week 11.
As the season continued, Dowdle’s efficiency began to decline. He finished with 4.6 yards per carry for the season, but this stat is slightly inflated from his three breakout weeks. In the last four weeks of the season, his yards per carry were 3.1, 3.2, 4.9, and 1.4, respectively. Multiple factors could have contributed to Dowdle’s fall-off, which I will get into, but a Week 14 Bye Week didn’t help the issue. Even though he ducked the injury report, I can’t imagine that he didn’t take some damage during the season. He finished the 2025 season with 1,076 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 236 attempts. The 27-year-old has appeared to be unhappy with how the rest of the season went. He is likely headed out the door when free agency arrives.
The Offensive Line
The offensive line in 2025 was the victim of the injury bug. Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett both went down in Week Two, with both being sent to injured reserve. Hunt would miss the rest of the regular season, and Corbett would return after his initial four weeks. Both backup guards, Chandler Zavala and Brady Christensen, also missed the majority of the season. Zavala had two stints on IR, the second of which kept him out for the rest of the season. Christensen went down in Week Nine and missed the rest of the season. To make matters worse, starting tackle Ikem Ekwonu suffered a devastating knee injury to end the season, which is sure to keep him out into the next season. The offensive line has been good since the 2024 season, when the team focused on upgrading the position. Having back-to-back 1,000-yard rushers is a testament to their ability. Unfortunately, the Panthers will have to answer some tough questions soon, particularly around the tackle and center positions. The guards should still be locked up behind Damien Lewis and Hunt, fresh from the bicep injury that basically ended his season.
Stick With the Stable or Pursue Other Options?
Currently, the Panthers have three running backs guaranteed for next season. Hubbard, rookie Trevor Etienne, and former 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks. Etienne spent most of his rookie season on special teams, but did find his way into the backfield a couple of times. We still haven’t seen what Etienne is truly capable of at the NFL level, but he is young and does possess breakaway speed. Brooks is coming off his second ACL tear, the first he suffered in college. Brooks was a monster in college before he had to sit behind future NFL star Bijan Robinson. Despite being pushed into a backup role, he still produced at Texas. Unfortunately, just as he made his way back to the field, this time in the NFL, he tore his ACL again. Two ACL’s is not a good way to start a career, especially not at a position that is dependent on making sharp cuts and explosive bursts of speed. With Dowdle likely gone, and another year removed from the ACL tear, Brooks is certainly in line for some work in the coming season. Still, the front office would be wise to have a backup plan in case Brooks is unable to reach his pre-injury potential.
The Panthers are unlikely to seek a running back early in the draft or in free agency. There are some big holes to fill, and with the 19th pick in the draft, it would be wise to invest in a promising young player. I would go as far as to say that taking a running back in the first four rounds isn’t the right move. In the off chance that Jeremiyah Love is available at the 19th pick, that would be a more interesting conversation, even then, as good as Love is, picking him with the 19th pick might still be a reach for Carolina. With needs at linebacker, pass rush, and now the offensive line, all premium positions, it would be wise to prioritise those positions. Some good free agent options would be a good get at the right price, but shoring up the defense should be the highest priority, followed by the offensive line. There is only so much money to go around. Bryce Young’s second contract is looming in the distance.
Conclusion
It is still unknown exactly why the Panthers put less emphasis on the run game later in the season. Head coach Dave Canales is the primary play caller, and he has always had an affinity for the run game, at least in his limited career so far. I wouldn’t doubt that Hubbard didn’t fully recover from his calf injury, and Dowdle might have run out of gas. It is also important to note that Canales seems to trust Young with the ball. The amount of passing plays increased in the back half of the season, and Young delivered. Regardless, the run game seems to be a major proponent of Canales game plan. Whether they seek another running back in the draft or free agency, or stick with what they have, I have faith in what the team does next.
