Now that the 2025 season is in the books and the preparations for the 2026 offseason are well underway, we're going to take a look at where the Panthers stand for the future at each position. We'll cover one position group per day through the next two weeks, offering a look at where things stand in advance of free agency and the draft. The series started Monday with a look at the offensive line.

CHARLOTTE — The running game is always going to be a big part of what Dave Canales wants to do.

When you run the ball, you control the clock. And if you're efficient on third downs, you can run even more. And the more times you're able to run, the better your chances of winning become.

"Good things happen when you run the ball; you run the ball when good things happen," Canales likes to say. "It works both ways, and it's a part of who we are."

So for the Panthers, this is always going to be a priority.

Chuba Hubbard was coming off a 1,195-yard, 10-touchdown breakout season in 2024, during which the Panthers extended his contract to make him a cornerstone piece here.

And they demonstrated their commitment to that part of the offense by signing Rico Dowdle in free agency, when he was coming off a 1,000-yard season of his own.

The plan was for the two of them to share the load, Stewart-and-Williams or Davis-and-Foster style. It didn't exactly work that way, but the results were still sufficient to help them get to the playoffs. It included some twists and turns, and more are coming. But it will always be central to Canales' philosophy.

UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2026: Chuba Hubbard (2028), Trevor Etienne (2028), Jonathan Brooks (2027), Montrell Johnson (2026), Tre Tyus (2026).

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: Rico Dowdle.

WHAT WENT RIGHT IN 2025

The job-share thing lasted until Hubbard suffered a calf injury in Week 4, which kept him out the next two weeks and slowed him for a few more, and Dowdle was more than up to the task of subbing in.

From Weeks 5-9, Dowdle ran 103 times for 652 yards and three touchdowns (6.33 yards per carry), with a 206-yard outburst against the Dolphins followed by 183 against the Cowboys the following week. He also put 130 on the board in Week 9 against the Packers, when they pulled the road upset by keeping the ball (33 rush attempts, and an OK 4-of-10 on third downs).

Dowdle tailed off a bit after that heater, averaging 3.25 per carry the rest of the season, but he had his second straight 1,000-yard season, finishing with 1,076 on the ground.

Once Hubbard returned to health, he continued to contribute (734 combined yards from scrimmage), and didn't cause a fuss with Dowdle getting the lion's share of the snaps the rest of the regular season.

NEXT STEPS FOR 2026

Now it's decision time — for Dowdle and the team.

Dowdle said the workload distribution in the playoffs was a concern to him. Hubbard had 13 carries for 46 yards (3.5 per carry) in the wild card game against the Rams, while Dowdle got five carries for 9 yards (1.8 per). At least part of that was a function of only getting 22 carries as a team.

But Hubbard was and remains a trusted leader around here.

Early on, it seemed Dowdle was as good as gone (based on his statements on locker cleanout day). Since then, he's posted some conciliatory messages on social media. But the reality is he's turning 28 this offseason, and the running back market is a very get-it-while-you-can, where-you-can place.

The Panthers will add someone here to go along with the existing group that includes former second-rounder Jonathon Brooks.

Brooks has recovered from his second ACL (and there's a guy walking around this building all the time who came back from three at an older age), and has big-time speed. The fact that he has nine rushing attempts in two years means you can't count on him as a factor, but he could potentially be a lottery ticket that pays big dividends.

Whether it's in free agency or the draft, they'll add another to go with Hubbard, Brooks, and Trevor Etienne. General manager Dan Morgan didn't close the door on that being Dowdle, either.

Stay tuned.