Should the Panthers Be Concerned About Rico Dowdle?

As the Carolina Panthers continue their quest for a spot in the NFL Playoffs, the franchise showed promise in the Week 11 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Quarterback Bryce Young put on a clinic in Sunday’s contest, throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns while completing 31 of his 45 attempts. The third-year playmaker was the focal point of the Panthers’ offensive attack and was named the NFC Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week for his impressive efforts.

While Carolina was playing from behind for the majority of the contest, there was still a concern with running back Rico Dowdle’s production.

Heading into the inner-division matchup on Sunday, the 27-year-old rusher was coming off a disappointing game against the New Orleans Saints, as he rushed for 54 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. And with the Falcons' run defense being one of the worst in the NFL this season, many expected Dowdle to have a bounce-back performance in Atlanta.

However, this was not the case.

Dowdle would finish the contest with 19 carries for 45 yards on the ground, but managed to pick up five receptions for 55 yards. Clearly, the Panthers’ deficit played a factor in his role being primarily in the passing game, but his average yards per carry in the last two weeks of 2.6 could be concerning for the offense.

After former 2021 third-round pick Chuba Hubbard suffered an injury in October that caused him to miss two games, Dowdle has quickly become one of the hottest running backs in the NFL. He currently holds the fourth-most rushing yards this year with 833 and is on pace to reach the 1,000-yard mark this year.

One of the key reasons that may have impacted his play over the last two games is the injuries on the offensive line. With both Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen out with injuries, the offensive line has taken a significant hit.

This has also leaked into the run game, as Dowdle is not receiving the high-level play from the interior from earlier this season.

To make matters worse, the Panthers’ remaining schedule features multiple stout defenses, including the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night in Week 12. In order for Carolina to keep their playoff hopes alive, the offense must find a way to overcome the injuries up front.