Panthers Replace RB Rico Dowdle

The Carolina Panthers ranked 19th in rushing yards per game last season. Running back Chuba Hubbard took a step back in production. After logging 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, Chubbard welcomed Rico Dowdle to the Panthers' backfield in 2025 and posted 511 yards and one touchdown. Dowdle, meanwhile, put up 1,076 yards and six touchdowns.

The Panthers lost Dowdle to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency last week, but Hubbard won't have the backfield all to himself.

On Wednesday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Carolina plans to sign 27-year-old running back AJ Dillon to a one-year contract. 

Dillon began his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay drafted him in the second round in 2020, and his best years, by far, were as a Packer. Dillon recorded 2,428 yards and 16 touchdowns from 2020 to 2023.

Dillon missed the entire 2024 NFL season with a neck injury. He signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles last March, but he only appeared in seven games for the Eagles, with 12 rushing attempts for 60 yards.

While in Green Bay, Dillon shared the backfield with now-Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. Dillon has always been a downhill, physical runner, which complemented Jones nicely.

If Dillon can stay healthy, he could be a nice RB2 to Hubbard. But that's a very optimistic lens. More likely, the Panthers are keeping their fingers crossed that Jonathan Brooks can fully recover from a second ACL tear in 13 months, which he suffered in December 2024.

Carolina could — and should — target a running back at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft next month.