After being tossed to the side by the Dallas Cowboys following a good season, running back Rico Dowdle felt he had a point to prove after joining the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 offseason. He’s picked up where he left off with some eye-popping performances this season.
However, the sixth year back went down on the Panthers’ opening drive in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints and was forced to leave the game. Here’s everything to know about his status.
What Happened to Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle?
Dowdle has been a fantastic addition to the Panthers’ offense, helping to push this unit to new heights in 2025. With Carolina in sole possession of first place in the NFC South after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 15 Thursday Night loss, the Panthers have a massive opportunity against the Saints on Sunday.
However, fans held their breath as Dowdle went down early after being in the middle of a scrum during Carolina’s opening drive. While he was forced to exit the game, he did return a few plays later, capping off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
Hard to tell what happened with Rico Dowdle in this scrum but sounds like he’s back on the sideline with his helmet on, ready to go back in.
pic.twitter.com/hrXpD2O0Mx— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 14, 2025
The Panthers’ backfield had already devolved into more of a committee recently. Chuba Hubbard’s improved play has put him back in the fold. This is unlikely to be any sort of committee without Dowdle. If either of the Panthers’ backs misses time, the other becomes a bellcow.
Hubbard has been one of the worst picks in fantasy this season, but anyone who made it to the playoffs with him may end up with a potential league winner if Dowdle is out these next two weeks.
Despite more of a committee the past few weeks, Dowdle has impressed this season, turning 192 carries into 929 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also caught 29 of 36 targets for 254 yards and another trip to the end zone. Dowdle’s great campaign has him ranked in the top ten running backs in PFSN’s RB Impact metric, coming in ninth with a score of 82.6.
The Panthers got out to a quick 7-0 start and shut the Saints down on their opening offensive drive. Carolina can win the NFC South if the franchise wins out. They’ve gotten out to a good start against New Orleans, but can’t take their foot off the pedal.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.Â
