Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (hand) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's Wild-Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Mitchell was limited in practice on Thursday, but ended up missing Friday's session. The Lions have decided to rule him out for this contest, which normally doesn't mean too much. However, Sam LaPorta (knee) has been banged up, but he was able to get through a full practice on Friday. Fellow tight end Brock Wright appears ready to play, so the absence of Mitchell won't make much of an impact.

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle got a little extra playing time in a big Week 18 win over the Washington Commanders. Dowdle ran the ball nine times, gaining 46 yards. He was targeted four times in the passing game, making three catches for 54 yards, including a big play in which he caught a pass for a 32-yard gain. With the Cowboys fully in charge of the game, the backups got a little time to play and Dowdle made the most of it. He's a solid backup and at times this season looked better than starter Tony Pollard, but Pollard was ultimately able to fight him off and keep the Dallas depth chart as it was.

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble caught both of his targets for 11 yards in a 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. The third-year tight end's effort was good enough for third-most receiving yards on the team on a quiet afternoon for the offense. Tremble finishes his 2023 season with 23 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games. He will look to make a case to open the 2024 season as Carolina's No. 1 tight end this offseason.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen caught two of his three targets for 12 yards in a 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. Thielen was quiet in the season finale, although his 12 receiving yards were good enough for second-most on the team on an afternoon where Bryce Young only threw for 94 yards. Thielen finishes his first season with the Panthers with 103 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns. He's under contract with Carolina for two more seasons with a potential out after the 2024 campaign.

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard carried the ball 23 times for 83 yards and added two catches for nine yards in a 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. Hubbard easily led the team in rushing in the regular-season finale as Miles Sanders saw just three touches in the loss. Hubbard ultimately turned in a successful season as he wrestled the starting role away from Sanders mid-season and never looked back. His role heading into next season remains up in the air, however, as the Panthers are likely to have a new head coach and general manager in place.