Insider says this will be Panthers' plan if they lose RB Rico Dowdle in free agency

The Carolina Panthers may not be in a rush about their, well, rush.

ESPN national reporters Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, fresh off their trip to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, laid out a bevy of new notes regarding the offseason on Sunday. Graziano included his thoughts on the Panthers' plan for their backfield if soon-to-be free agent running back Rico Dowdle gets away.

He writes:

" . . . I don't think they'll rush to find an external replacement. They have Chuba Hubbard under contract, they like second-year back Trevor Etienne's promise and they're optimistic on 2024 second-round pick Jonathon Brooks, who has played only three games in his career because of injuries."

Dowdle, who signed a one-year deal with Carolina last spring, took the starting spot from Hubbard in the middle of the 2025 campaign. He'd go on to lead the team with 1,076 rushing yards while recording career-highs in carries (236) and total touchdowns (seven).

Hubbard would regain the bulk of the work to close out the season, receiving 13 attempts to Dowdle's five in the wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January.

The 27-year-old Gaffney, S.C. native has expressed a desire to land a featured role for 2026, which would likely mean a departure from the Panthers.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL free agency: Insider hints at Panthers' plan with RB Rico Dowdle