The Carolina Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday in a wild-card game that excited neutral fans around the NFL world. The NFC South team was close to upsetting the Rams for the second time this season.

Matthew Stafford and Co. woke up before it was too late to secure a 34-31 win at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina entered an offseason where a lot of things could change. Bryce Young’s third season showed improvement, but some thought he played for his spot against the Rams.

Running back Rico Dowdle will enter free agency after a terrific 2025 campaign. He created a terrific tandem with Chuba Hubbard. However, it doesn’t look like he will stick around for much longer. Speaking with reporters after Saturday night’s game, Dowdle hinted that his drop in usage will play a role in his free agency decision.

“Just want to be a guy that can go out there and just get the bulk and try and let it run,” Dowdle said. “Like I said, I think that my game just shows the more I get throughout the games, the stronger and better I get so just want to take that into consideration from how I played out the last couple of weeks.

“You know we got two great guys in the backfield. You know it be hard sometimes and coach just gotta find a way to figure it out.”

#Panthers RB Rico Dowdle says his playing time decreasing as the season wound down will impact his free-agency decision.

He doesn’t know why his role decreased late in the year.

“I just want to be a guy who can get the ball.”

(🎥 @SteveReedAP)pic.twitter.com/A15FHcKpJX

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 11, 2026

Dowdle carried the ball 236 for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns in 2024. The last three regular season games, he ran the ball nine, 12 and seven times, respectively. The Carolina Panthers gave him the ball just five timeson Saturday, which ended with a 9-yard gain.

Nine, 12 and seven rushes is very poor for a running back, specially when he ran it 34 times in the prior two games. Dowdle should have a strong market after a career year. It remains to be seen who secures his services next.

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