The Carolina Panthers announced Today that they have signed running back AJ Dillon to a one-year contract, bringing a veteran presence into a backfield that changed significantly in the opening stretch of free agency. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The move comes days after Rico Dowdle, who recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons including his most recent campaign in Carolina, departed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an unrestricted free agent. Dillon does not arrive with equivalent recent production, but his size and track record as a short-yardage specialist address a specific gap the Panthers have been working to fill.
Dillon, who turns 28 in May, joins a backfield that already includes starting running back Chuba Hubbard, second-year back Trevor Etienne, and Jonathon Brooks, who missed all of 2025 after tearing his ACL in his rookie season and has appeared in just three NFL games over two years. Hubbard remains the clear lead back, and the addition of Dillon is unlikely to threaten that standing. What it does is give the Panthers a dedicated short-yardage option, something the roster has not had in several seasons.
A career that showed promise before injury interrupted
Dillon was a second-round pick out of Boston College in the 2020 NFL Draft, selected by the Green Bay Packers. In four seasons with Green Bay, he recorded 2,497 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns across 63 games, including three playoff appearances. He added 87 receptions for 776 yards during that stretch, contributing as a receiver out of the backfield as well.
His best individual season came in 2021, when he posted 1,141 yards from scrimmage operating primarily behind Aaron Jones in a productive Packers offense. That remains his only season surpassing 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
A neck injury cost Dillon the entire 2024 season. He returned in 2025 on a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles but saw his role shrink significantly after the team acquired Tank Bigsby midseason. A fumble against the New York Giants in Week 6 reduced his opportunities further, and he finished the year with 60 rushing yards on 12 carries across seven games. He also caught three passes for 21 yards. He was inactive for Philadelphia’s playoff run. Across his 67 career regular-season appearances, Dillon has totaled 2,488 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, along with 89 receptions for 784 receiving yards.
Where Dillon fits in Carolina’s offense
The Panthers struggled in short-yardage situations during the 2025 season to a degree that became notable. At one point the team installed tight end Mitchell Evans, a former high school quarterback, to execute a quarterback sneak. The workaround was successful in its one attempt but underscored a real deficiency in the roster that a 247-pound downhill runner could address directly.
Dillon is not expected to function as a featured back. Hubbard will handle the bulk of the workload, and Brooks, if healthy, will be given a genuine opportunity to earn a significant role given the approaching end of his rookie contract. Dillon’s value will come in specific packages near the goal line and on short third and fourth downs, where his combination of size and power makes him an immediate upgrade over what Carolina had available last season.
This signing is the second time Carolina has reached into Philadelphia’s roster this offseason. The Panthers also added outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips on a four-year, $120 million deal earlier this month after Phillips performed at a high level in the second half of 2025 with the Eagles.
Dillon acknowledged the move publicly on Today, posting the Panthers’ team slogan on social media alongside an expression of enthusiasm, suggesting a player ready to compete for a meaningful role in a new city after two difficult years.
