Don't miss our podcast, Processing Blue, and subscribe to our newsletter, Access Panthers. This year is crucial for Bryce Young as he seeks to establish himself as a franchise quarterback, and for second-year head coach Dave Canales with his upgraded team. Follow along through training camp, preseason, and the regular season. By DIAMOND VENCES
The Panthers are coming off an embarrassing 40-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills. But at 4-4, the Carolina faithful still has a team to root for in the NFC South division race.
So, naturally, fans are curious about where the team goes from here. That’s why we’ve brought back the Panthers mailbag to answer their questions.
Here are some standout questions from social media:
Trade deadline decisions
Rob on X asks: Mike, are the Panthers buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?
The Panthers are in an interesting spot at 4-4. They could be 5-4 or 4-5 by the time the Nov. 4 trade deadline arrives.
Right now, the Panthers have little to offer in the form of a trade chip. And really, why would you trade anyone with injuries piling up and a playoff race still in front of you?
While I lean toward the Panthers staying put at the deadline, mainly because of how much general manager Dan Morgan values draft picks, it wouldn’t be farfetched to see the front office target a minor move through a late-round pick swap.
The position I keep coming back to is outside linebacker.
Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan watches the team run through drills during an OTA practice on May 27, 2025 in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Pat Jones (back) is done for the season, and fellow veteran D.J. Wonnum is on the final year of his contract. While rookies Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen have flashed, the trio of the two youngsters and Wonnum isn’t going to be enough for the home stretch. Thomas Incoom is a terrific special teams player, but he could be upgraded on defense. Boogie Basham, who is on the practice squad, is a replacement level contributor at best.
A couple of weeks ago, The Observer spoke to an NFC exec about the outside linebacker trade market, and the source didn’t seem too optimistic about the options available: “More teams interested than teams selling it seems like.”
Since that chat, the same thought has been echoed by several national reports. Still, some of those reports, namely from ESPN and The Athletic, have identified the Tennessee Titans as one of the teams ready to deal.
It’s worth noting that Titans GM Mike Borgonzi worked with Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis for more than a decade in Kansas City. Perhaps their relationship could lead to a minor depth swap, based around a pick exchange.
Outside linebacker Arden Key might make sense as a buy-low trade target.
The 29-year-old journeyman is in the final year of his deal, and he’s produced 14 sacks over the past two and a half years with Tennessee. Key, though, has been dealing with a quad injury for a couple of weeks, so it’s worth wondering if the Panthers might pass on a defender with a recent history of soft tissue issues.
Key’s salary would easily fit on the Panthers’ cap. Given his recent injury history and expiring contract, maybe he could be had for a conditional late-round pick swap (think a sixth-round pick for a seventh-round pick) with the Titans.
As the running back rotation turns ...
Skaxis on BlueSky asks: Why does Dave Canales insist on continuing to split carries between Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle when it’s clear to everyone with eyes that Rico is by far the more effective and talented back?
Following the loss to the Bills, Canales was asked if he has considered deviating from the series timeshare at running back. This is what he said:
“Nope, like the plan, just looking for execution, and we have to be able to be balanced with the pass game in those situations and the turnovers really just got us out of our rhythm and put us in a different mode.”
Canales was essentially blaming backup QB Andy Dalton’s turnovers for the lack of flow within the offense, which impacted the run game against Buffalo.
In a way, that’s fair. Dalton’s giveaways in the first half led to 10 points and put the Panthers in a notable hole.
But Canales didn’t simply abandon the run, he still tried to make waves on the ground to limited success.
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle carries the ball as Taylor Moton (72) runs ahead during Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills in Charlotte. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com
Dowdle and Hubbard combined for 88 rushing yards and a garbage-time touchdown against the Bills. Hubbard, who started for the second straight week, had 12 carries for 34 rushing yards (2.8 yards per carry) and the score. Dowdle led the offense for the fourth consecutive week with 54 yards on eight carries (6.8 yards per carry).
It’s abundantly clear that Dowdle is on a heater and significantly outperforming Hubbard.
Last week, this same mailbag column noted that a one-game sample size against a two-game sample size was incomplete. Well, now we have two two-game samples to dissect, and both batches point toward Dowdle as being the clear answer to the running back question.
Neither running back seems particularly comfortable with the series-by-series switch off. Hubbard is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry over the past two weeks, while Dowdle is averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
Those numbers tell us that the rotation is limiting Dowdle’s opportunities for more successful plays, and Hubbard, who is known as a bulk runner, is lacking momentum because he’s flip-flopping off the field with every possession.
Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard crosses the threshold of the end zone for a touchdown as Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson defends during Sunday’s game at Bank of America Stadium. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com
With those two separate outlooks, it makes sense to ride the hot hand and use Dowdle as the predominant ball-carrier in the backfield. Hubbard can get his feet back under him as a change-of-pace back. There doesn’t need to be a drive-by-drive timeshare at the position. Canales should feel out the opponent and his running backs and plan accordingly.
A paint-by-numbers approach isn’t beneficial for either player.
Canales didn’t mind benching Austin Corbett for Cade Mays and Brady Christensen. He shouldn’t get bent out of shape leaning on Dowdle over Hubbard, especially given the sampling of the past two weeks.
Based on his comments from Monday, following a film review, Canales sounds like he is open to favoring Dowdle in the rotation in the future.
No pretty losses for the Panthers
@keatongoforth on X asks: Mine is simple: Why can’t this team lose in a competitive fashion? Why is it a W or a blowout?
I’ve often wondered this myself.
However, the 27-24 win over the Miami Dolphins could have easily ended up being a competitive final-score loss. And if the Jets came back in the 13-6 win, that could have been a competitive loss as well.
Really, I think it comes down to overall execution. When the Panthers’ run offense is humming, Carolina can build leads and gain momentum. The same can be said when the run defense shuts down the opponent early and often.
The Panthers get in trouble when the run offense and run defense don’t work simultaneously. The Panthers’ passing offense isn’t proficient enough to stay consistently competitive with competent opponents when Carolina gets down big.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales, center, watches the team's defense battle the Miami Dolphins in an Oct. 5, 2025, game in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Dolphins 27-24. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills are legitimate playoffs contenders that can put up points. The Jacksonville Jaguars are good enough to take advantage of multiple turnovers early in a game and build on a first-half lead. The Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals was just a complete mess from an execution standpoint.
The bottom line: When the Panthers turn the ball over in droves, and the rushing offense isn’t consistently working, the defense isn’t good enough to pick up the slack. The same can be said about the defense letting down the banged-up offense.
The injuries haven’t helped, but it feels like the blowout losses are largely due to a snowballing of poor execution.