Who Should I Start? Rico Dowdle or Salvon Ahmed

Sunday, January 11, 12:48 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who will be a free agent in March, said his decreased number of carries at the end of the season will impact his thinking in free agency, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Dowdle said he wants to go somewhere "where he can get the bulk of the carries." The 27-year-old was an unquestioned RB1 during the 2025 season when Chuba Hubbard missed time with an injury. However, Dowdle was involved in more of a timeshare late in the year following Hubbard's return, and he watched Hubbard score twice in the Wild-Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had only five rushing attempts for nine yards while adding one catch on two targets for six yards. In the final four regular-season games, Dowdle averaged only 3.3 yards per carry as his role shrank. It sounds as though Dowdle doesn't plan on signing in Carolina, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to land a lead-back role elsewhere in free agency.

Friday, August 8, 7:12 PM

Indianapolis Colts running back Salvon Ahmed (ankle) was taken down by a defender with an illegal hip-drop tackle in training camp practice on Sunday and suffered a season-ending ankle injury, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Colts placed Ahmed on season-ending Injured Reserve on Friday and have signed former Dolphins RB Nate Noel in a corresponding move. Jonathan Taylor is the unquestioned RB1 in Indy, with Tyler Goodson and rookie DJ Giddens battling for backup duties in 2025. With Ahmed now done for the entire 2025 campaign, it will mean added opportunities for Khalil Herbert, Ulysses Bentley and Noel as they look to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. The 26-year-old Ahmed spent his first four seasons in Miami and had a combined 593 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 163 carries over 38 games (four starts).