The Carolina Panthers and the Miami Dolphins are in a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. The Panthers are looking to bounce back from a trouncing at the hands of the New England Patriots and are hanging around against a different AFC East team. With their starting RB Chuba Hubbard already out, their running back room took another hit, and Rico Dowdle exited with an injury.
What Happened to Rico Dowdle?
Dowdle was spotted on the sideline nursing a leg injury. It appeared to have something to do with his calf. Hubbard is out for today’s game because of a calf injury, and Carolina doesn’t need another one of those injuries to their running back.
Dowdle has been great in Hubbard’s absence. He had 15 carries for 132 yards, along with two catches for 24 yards before exiting.
Rico Dowdle will not go down 😤
MIAvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/K7NlxXYmFB
— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025
The Panthers lost Chuba Hubbard to a calf injury, and Dowdle may be dealing with the same thing one week later. He was spotted on the sideline doing calf raises.
Dowdle was off to a scorching start in his first season start, looking like a weekly RB2. If this injury ends up costing him time and Hubbard can’t return, rookie Trevor Etienne would lead the backfield.
We may also see veteran journeyman DeeJay Dallas as the passing-down back. Etienne would be a priority addition to fantasy leagues. Dallas can be left on the waiver wire.
Fortunately for the Panthers fans, Dowdle returned to the game and still looked explosive. He came back with a vengeance. Right away, the Panthers went right to him for a four-yard reception. Then he rattled off a 43-yard run and finished the drive off with a one-yard rushing touchdown. A few Miami penalties aided the drive, but it was the Dowdle show, and what a show it was. However, Dowdle had to leave the game once again late in the fourth quarter after he looked shaken up.
Carolina has to be encouraged by Dowdle’s performance. With six minutes left in the game, he had over 200 yards from scrimmage, more than the entire Miami offense. The Miami offense did not fare well after losing Tyreek Hill last week until a late deep shot connected with Jaylen Waddle for a long touchdown. This reclaimed the Panthers’ lead, and now, Miami needs a stop to get its second-straight win.
The Panthers might have a nice two-headed monster out of the backfield when Hubbard returns from his calf problem, though. Dowdle is dominating and could help the Panthers overturn this late deficit. All eyes are on Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense to lead a late drive to get the Panthers another victory.
