Since being introduced as the Carolina Panthers’ coach in January 2024, Dave Canales has orchestrated his offense with the running backs foremost in mind.
The philosophy often fell flat last season during a 1-7 start, dogged by an injury-plagued defense failing to stop opposing rushers. The Panthers’ defense, which played without Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown for all but one game, yielded 3,057 rushing yards, the third-most in NFL history.
Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik want to turn the tables. Entering Sunday’s NFL season opener against at the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Panthers, with the aid of a healthy, new-look defense, plan to utilize a trio of running backs to help control the clock and the team’s offensive tempo.
The running back leader remains Chuba Hubbard, but with Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for the season, general manager Dan Morgan added depth by signing free-agent Rico Dowdle and drafting Trevor Etienne.
#Panthers QB Bryce Young (9) hands off to RB Chuba Hubbard (30) during Tuesday’s #NFL training camp practice … pic.twitter.com/LcxUfl8WCL
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) August 12, 2025
Carolina Panthers, Dave Canales Leaning On RBs
Operating in the NFL’s No. 29-ranked offense last season, Hubbard rushed for a team-best 1,195 yards, adding 43 receptions and 11 total touchdowns. Dowdle, an Asheville, N.C., native, compiled 1,079 yards for the Dallas Cowboys last season. Etienne is expected to start as a third-down option while handling kick-return duties.
During Thursday’s video conference call, Idzik described the running back room’s hierarchy. The unit could be a key to the Panthers qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
“I think first and foremost, it’s a body of work by Chuba,” Idzik said. “He’s a big piece of who we were last year and who we are going forward. We know the style of runner he is on game day. We know the other two as well; they’ve proven themselves throughout this spring.
“We’ve seen Rico’s tape. We’ve seen him back that up in person, same thing with Trevor. Everybody saw it in the preseason, the way he runs and finishes his runs.
“So I don’t think we put a number on it, but you just feel blessed to have three guys that run the ball the right way, and then you kind of see as the game goes and you try to make sure that they’re all playing fresh.”
A hampered Hubbard sat out the final two games last season, and Idzik said Canales, who calls the offensive plays, plans on utilizing Dowdle and Etienne to help balance the carries and keep the trio “fresh.”
“The benefit from having all three is we don’t need to run Chuba dry early,” Idzik said. “We have two good runners with him. So, it’s a long season (and) keeping them fresh and keeping them running full speed, we don’t lose a tick when one goes in versus the other.”
For Canales to unleash his version of a dominant running game, the Panthers’ defense must first stop the opposing rushers.
Trevor Etienne enters the 2025 #NFL season as #Panthers third-string RB and special teams performer … pic.twitter.com/zjq28VAg2u
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) September 5, 2025
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