Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws the ball to running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the first organized team activity at Miller Electric Center Monday, May 19, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Carolina Panthers Rookie RB Reveals Plan While Behind Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle on Depth Chart

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 6:10 AM ET

Coming off a five-win campaign in the 2024 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers are looking to make a big leap forward in Year 2 of Dave Canales’ tenure as the team’s head coach.

The Panthers showed some signs of improvement down the stretch of the 2024 season, winning two of their last three games. They also recorded four victories following the return of quarterback Bryce Young to starting duties after a midseason benching in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.

Carolina added some fresh talent to its offense via the 2025 NFL draft, spending a first-round pick on Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan . And even though they have Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle in the backfield, the Panthers went to pick Georgia Bulldogs running back Trevor Etienne in the fourth round.

Etienne is not considered a threat to surpass either Hubbard or Dowdle on the Panthers’ RB depth chart. For now, he’s just going to try to absorb as much info as he can.

“I just be a sponge, you know, ask as many questions as I can,” Etienne said (h/t Kassidy Hill of the Panthers’ official website). “You have two examples that’s with you every day of what to do and how to do it in this league.

“So I come in, I’ll be a sponge and learn what I can from them. Watch them and watch how they go about their day-to-day process and how they handle their business and try to take it and incorporate it into my game.”

During his three-year stint in college with the Florida Gators and the Bulldogs, Etienne produced 2,081 rushing yardsa nd 23 touchdowns on 371 carries.

Carolina Panthers’ RB tandem gets high ranking

Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers] head coach Dave Canales talks with referee Dave Hawkshaw against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The duo of Hubbard and Dowdle is considered one of the best in the NFL by Fox, which has the tandem ranked at No. 8.

.@NFLonFOX ranked the #Panthers RB duo of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle as 8th best in the NFL heading into 2025.

Should they have been ranked higher or lower? pic.twitter.com/RfHBIynPup

— ً (@ThomasWrrld) June 5, 2025

Hubbard is coming off a 1,195-yard campaign with the Panthers, his career-high in the league. Dowdle, on the other hand, comes to Carolina after rushing for 1,079 yards in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) after his game winning touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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