Report: Cowboys FA Rico Dowdle Agrees to Panthers Contract Worth Up to $6.25M

The Carolina Panthers are adding to their backfield as they prepare to potentially be without Jonathon Brooks for most of the year.

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Panthers signed Dallas Cowboys free agent running back Rico Dowdle to a one-year deal with up to $6.25 million.

Dowdle, who spent the first five seasons of his career in Dallas, had a breakout year in 2024, rushing for 1,079 yards and a pair of touchdowns along with 249 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He had previously never recorded more than 400 rushing yards in a season.

The Panthers' signing of Dowdle comes amid uncertainty about Brooks' status for the 2024 season. Brooks, who was Carolina's second-round pick in 2024, missed the first half of the year while recovering from a torn ACL. In just his third game, Brooks tore his ACL in the same knee and was forced to miss the rest of the season.

Brooks is expected to miss the 2025 season while recovering from the injury.

While the Panthers won't have their young running back on the field this year, they'll hope to get another great year from Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard, a fourth-round pick in 2021, had the best season of his career in 2024, racking up a career-high 1,195 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns.

Amid the outstanding season, the Panthers inked Hubbard to a four-year extension in November.

Carolina will look for the combination of Hubbard and Dowdle to fuel a strong rushing attack in 2025 as the Panthers try to turn things around after years of struggle.