Panthers’ Rico Dowdle returns to practice ahead of Week 18 Bucs showdown

The Carolina Panthers travel to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to begin Week 18 on Saturday evening. This game is for all the marbles … kind of. The Panthers can actually lose this game and still make the playoffs, whereas the Bucs must win and need help from the New Orleans Saints to win the NFC South and advance to the playoffs as the 4-seed. If the Panthers win this game, they will win the division with a 9-8 record that nobody saw coming ahead of the campaign.

The Panthers and Buccaneers met two weeks ago, and Carolina won by three points. Running back Rico Dowdle did not play great in that game despite having a very good season. He carried the ball only nine times for 29 yards. The former South Carolina back took off this season and has surpassed 1,000 rush yards for the second time in his career. Dowdle did it last year with the Dallas Cowboys. Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Dowdle carried the rock 12 times for 59 yards in an improvement. The Panthers had absolutely no passing game as Bryce Young ended with only 54 passing yards.

After not practicing on Tuesday with a toe injury, Dowdle returned to practice as a full participant on Wednesday.

The Panthers need to find a way to give Dowdle 20+ carries again. Earlier in the season, Dowdle could rush for 150+ yards with ease. It’s tougher with Chubba Hubbard there as well, but that is a dynamic duo that can make plays at any time. The Buccaneers will be in serious trouble if Dowdle and Hubbard are on their game.

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