CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lined up behind Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young on Friday, Rico Dowdle went through the motions of a play-action pass. The running back sprinted to the far corner of the far end zone at the practice fields behind Bank of America Stadium. Young lofted a pass and Dowdle displayed few effects of a sore quadriceps as he caught the ball on the run.
“He looked great,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “He moved around (Thursday), did some things and got him out there today again.
“He’s ready to go.”
There were some questions early this week about whether Dowdle would serve as RB1 when the Panthers (5-5) travel to face the Atlanta Falcons (3-6) Sunday. Dowdle did not practice Wednesday and participated on a limited basis Thursday.
Dowdle struggled against the New Orleans Saints’ stacking defense. The NFC’s leading rusher with 788 yards, he gained 53 yards last Sunday. The Falcons are expected to employ similar seven- and eight-man fronts in an effort to slow Dowdle. The move would put the defensive backs in a position to challenge the Panthers’ wide receivers with press coverage.
Young delivered just one pass beyond 13 yards last Sunday. If Dowdle is again bottled up at the line, the Panthers will need to unlock a downfield passing game.
#Panthers WR Xavier Legette, who had zero catches on one target last Sunday, works on getting off the line against press coverage during Thursday’s #NFL practice. It was something the receivers struggled to do in the Week 10 loss to the #Saints … pic.twitter.com/1qWLV0dYZB
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 14, 2025
Carolina Panthers G Chandler Zavala Earns Start
Injured during the Green Bay Packers outing Nov. 2, third-year guard Chandler Zavala missed last Sunday’s 17-7 loss to the Saints. Despite the missed time, the third-year right guard earned the start versus the Falcons, Canales said.
Versatile offensive lineman Austin Corbett started in place of Zavala last Sunday and will return to a utility role. The Panthers coach hinted the starting right guard role will return to a week-to-week position battle. Injured Robert Hunt could return after the Week 14 bye.
“When I look at these opportunities, I see these things as competitions that happen where your focus can’t be on competing against your teammate, but it is about opportunity, and who can make the most out of it,” Canales said. “And so I’m excited for Chandler to get in there and see what he can bring us, you know, in the run game and the pass game.”
The injury-riddled unit has featured eight different starting lineups over the Panthers’ initial 10 outings.
#Panthers’ offensive line has featured eight different starting lineups in their first 10 #NFL outings this season … pic.twitter.com/LEL0a8Brnw
— Jeff Hawkins (@WriterHawkins) November 14, 2025
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