Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) with the ball as Miami Dolphins free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Oct. 5, 2025.

The Carolina Panthers were without their top running back, Chuba Hubbard, for their Week 5 game against the Miami Dolphins.

The Panthers hardly noticed his absence thanks to a stellar performance from backup running back Rico Dowdle.

Dowdle was the driving force of Carolina's offense, handling most of the rushing workload and breaking off multiple long runs against a porous Miami run defense. By the game's end, Dowdle challenged the Panthers' single-game rushing record and became just the third player in franchise history to rack up 200-plus rushing yards in a single game.

Here's what to know about Dowdle's big day in the Panthers' 27-24 win over the Dolphins.

Rico Dowdle stats today

Dowdle racked up a career-high 206 rushing yards in the Panthers' Week 5 victory over the Dolphins. Below is a look at his full stats from the game.

  • Carries: 23
  • Rushing yards: 206
  • Rushing TDs: 1
  • Yards per carry: 9.0
  • Receptions: 3
  • Receiving yards: 28

Dowdle's 206-yard performance blew by his previous career high of 149 rushing yards. Interestingly, his previous career-best mark came against the Panthers during Week 15 of the 2024 season while with the Dallas Cowboys.

Dowdle's 206 rushing yards are the second-most in franchise history behind only DeAngelo Williams' 210-yard outing in Week 17 of the 2012 NFL season against the New Orleans Saints.

Jonathan Stewart is the only other Panthers running back to exceed 200 rushing yards in a single game. He had 206 in a Week 16 game against the New York Giants during the 2009 NFL season.

Dowdle's 200-yard rushing game was the 164th in NFL history. It was the first since Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran for 218 yards in a 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season.

Panthers RB depth chart

Dowdle entered Week 5 of the 2025 NFL season as the No. 2 option on Carolina's running back depth chart. Below is a look at the team's full pecking order at the position.

  1. Chuba Hubbard
  2. Rico Dowdle
  3. Trevor Etienne
  4. DeeJay Dallas
  5. Anthony Tyus III (practice squad)

How will Dowdle's big day impact his standing? Hubbard still figures to be the backfield leader once he returns from a calf injury, but perhaps the 27-year-old Dowdle will earn a more even carry share after his Sunday afternoon outburst.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rico Dowdle stats today, as Panthers RB stars in place of injured Chuba Hubbard

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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