The Carolina Panthers hope to improve offensively in quarterback Bryce Young’s third season. While the 2021 Heisman winner has shown progress, he will need a strong running game to take pressure off him, and the Panthers added key players this offseason alongside Chuba Hubbard to help make that happen.
Carolina’s Running Back Depth Chart
The Panthers have Hubbard leading the backfield this season after rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2024. They added former Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle in free agency, who is expected to share carries with Hubbard. Carolin also drafted Trevor Etienne out of Georgia as their third option.
The Panthers also have Jonathon Brooks, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he tore his ACL in week 14 of last season and will miss the entirety of the 2025 season.
Here’s everything to know about Hubbard, Dowdle, and Etienne.
Who is Chubba Hubbard?
The Panthers drafted Hubbard in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had a breakout season in 2024, rushing for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he will continue to lead Carolina’s rushing attack this season.
Chuba Spins into the Endzone for the TD!
📺: FOX@Hubbard_RMN | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/TvwG0JofOF
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 22, 2024
Hubbard isn’t an elite athlete and doesn’t have top-end speed, but he is explosive through the gaps and has excellent vision. Combined with his size at 6’1″ and 210 pounds, and his physicality as a runner, it’s easy to see why he has quickly become one of the league’s top backs.
His numbers may dip in 2025 with the addition of Dowdle, but he should remain the lead back in Carolina and be instrumental to the team’s offensive success.
Who is Rico Dowdle?
Dowdle was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2020 and remained with the team through the 2024 season. He was Dallas’ lead back last year, rushing for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns.
He entered free agency this offseason, and the Panthers quickly added him for depth behind Hubbard. Dowdle likely won’t see the 235 carries he had in Dallas, but he should be a solid backup and see plenty of opportunities in Carolina’s offense this season.
Dowdle is a physical back who lacks the athleticism to be a true alpha at the position, but he is reliable in short-yardage situations. He should help relieve some of Hubbard’s workload from last year, allowing both backs to stay fresh throughout the game.
Who is Trevor Etienne?
The Panthers drafted Etienne out of Georgia in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He should serve as a change-of-pace option this season, as he has the most athletic ability among Carolina’s backs, posting a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
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Etienne, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne, split carries during his college career at Georgia and Florida. He finished with 2,081 yards and 23 touchdowns over three seasons.
At 5’9″ and 198 pounds, he’s a smaller back but could serve as a gadget player for Carolina this season. Given how his skill set differs from Dowdle’s and Hubbard’s, he could see a decent number of snaps in 2025.
