AJ Dillon - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Healthy scratch again Week 9 Dillon (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's battle against the Broncos, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact It's the third straight week that Dillon is a healthy scratch, and he hasn't logged gameday action since Wek 4 against Detroit. Meanwhile, rookie RB Anthony Tyus continues to be active, due largely to his work as a kick returner. As such, it appears Dillon isn't likely to suit up unless one of the RBs ahead of him in the pecking order -- Chuba Hubbard, Trevor Etienne or Tyus -- needs to miss time.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Inactive again for TNF Dillon (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday night's contest against the Packers, Darin Gantt of the team's official website reports.

Impact Dillon will be a healthy scratch for the second straight week as the Panthers will go with Chuba Hubbard, Trevor Etienne and Anthony Tyus as their three options in the backfield. Dillon appears to have found himself far down the pecking order, and he is unlikely to be a major part of Carolina's future plans.

OCTOBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Not suiting up Sunday Dillon (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact After an ankle injury kept Dillon from playing in a Week 6 win over the Eagles, he was a full participant in practices Wednesday through Friday and avoided an injury designation for Sunday's contest. Dillon will wind up on the inactive list for a second straight game, however, with Carolina moving forward with Trevor Etienne and Anthony Tyus as its backup options behind lead back Chuba Hubbard. Both Etienne and Tyus offer more utility on special teams than Dillon, who hadn't been offering much of an impact on offense with 17 carries for 43 yards (2.5 average) and two catches for three yards over his four appearances on the season.

OCTOBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Estimated as full participant Wednesday Dillon (ankle) was estimated as a full participant on the Panthers' official injury report Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Impact Dillon sat out Sunday's game at Philadelphia because of an ankle injury, but it looks like he's on pace to return to action in Week 7. He figures to continue to play a change-of-pace role in Carolina's backfield behind bell cow Chuba Hubbard.

OCTOBER 21 • ROTOWIRE

Ruled out for Week 6 Dillon (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Impact Meanwhile, RB Trevor Etienne (ankle) is listed as questionable and may be activated for injured reserve over the weekend. Either way, Chuba Hubbard figures to handle a large workload again.

OCTOBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with ankle issue Dillon (ankle) did not participate at practice Wednesday.

Impact It's not clear when Dillon suffered the ankle injury, but it puts his availability for Week 6 in doubt. He'll likely have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to put himself back on track to play Sunday at Philadelphia.

OCTOBER 14 • ROTOWIRE

AJ Dillon faces make-or-break Panthers audition after Jonathon Brooks injury Time to step up.

SEPTEMBER 27 • CATCRAVE.COM

For Panthers running backs AJ Dillon and Tre Tyus, today's another step The backup backs will have bigger roles today after the injury to Jonathon Brooks, but they also fit right into a running backs room built o...

SEPTEMBER 27 • PANTHERS.COM

Locker Room Sound | Week 3 vs. Cleveland Browns | 9/23 Watch LB Devin Lloyd, S Zakee Wheatley, CB Mike Jackson, RB AJ Dillon and WR Tetairoa McMillan speak to the media after Wednesday's practice...

SEPTEMBER 23 • PANTHERS.COM

Set for No. 2 role sans Brooks Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday that Dillon will have a "great opportunity" to serve as the top backup to Chuba Hubbard after Jonathon Brooks (core) was placed on i...

Impact According to Person, Canales said that he expects Brooks to miss around 6-to-8 weeks, clearing the way for Dillon to move up a rung on the depth chart for an extended period. Though Carolina brought in veteran running back Austin Ekeler for a workout Wednesday, he doesn't look to be an imminent threat to Dillon for the No. 2 role, with Mike Kaye of ESPN.com noting that Ekeler won't be immediately signed. In limited snaps behind Hubbard and Brooks through the Panthers' first two games, Dillon -- who has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over parts of six NFL seasons -- has gained 25 yards on eight totes.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Loses yardage on three carries Sunday Dillon handled three carries for minus-3 yards during Sunday's 34-3 win at Atlanta. He also recorded a tackle in punt coverage.

Impact Dillon again did not really get involved in Week 2 until the game was well in hand, although this time the lopsided result was in the Panthers' favor, and the Falcons evidently knew the run was coming. Carolina may have to lean on him more in Week 3 if 2024 second-rounder Jonathon Brooks (groin) ends up being unavailable.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Dave Canales: 'Very optimistic' Jonathon Brooks will play Week 1 Watch Panthers head coach Dave Canales speak with the media following practice as the team shifts its focus toward Week 1 against the Chicag...

SEPTEMBER 20 • PANTHERS.COM

Gets garbage-time work in loss Dillon handled five carries for 28 yards during Sunday's 59-37 loss versus the Bears.

Impact All of Dillon's touches came during Carolina's last drive of the game, when Chicago was leading by 22 points with less than four minutes remaining and more than content to let the Panthers run out the clock. Chuba Hubbard and 2024 second-rounder Jonathon Brooks should still probably be considered as being ahead of Dillon in line for carries going into Week 2.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Gets third spot in banged-up RB room Dillon secured the third running back spot on Carolina's 53-man roster, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Impact Dillon had been in a preseason battle with Trevor Etienne (ankle) for the third spot on the depth chart, but Etienne was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return Sunday, ruling Etienne out for the first four weeks of the regular season. Dillon is behind Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) and Jonathon Brooks (soreness) in the backfield pecking order, but Dillon would have a clear path to playing time early in the season if either of the top two running backs missed any game action.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

AJDillonPresserSeptember22026.mp3 AJ Dillon spoke to the media following practice on Wednesday.

SEPTEMBER 2 • PANTHERS.COM

Four takeaways from Wednesday, including AJ Dillon finding his role, and more The veteran running back brings a new dimension to the room, plus years of experience as a guide. Plus, updates on Darren Waller, Jonathon B...

SEPTEMBER 2 • PANTHERS.COM

Busy in exhibition finale Dillon carried the ball six times for 12 yards and caught three of four passes for 20 yards in Friday's 16-13 preseason win over the Texans.

Impact With Chuba Hubbard (hamstring) and Johnathon Brooks getting held out for the final preseason game, Trevor Etienne got the start but was quickly sidelined by an ankle injury. Dillon stepped in and played into the second quarter but didn't make much of an impact. The former Packer is trying to get his career back on track after not playing at all in 2024 due to neck issues and then getting just 12 carries over seven regular-season games in 2025 with the Eagles, but if the injuries to Hubbard and Etienne linger into Week 1, Dillon could have a surprisingly robust role in the Panthers' opener.

AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE

Bryce Young and the Panthers find better footing in a 34-17 victory at the Jaguars

Bryce Young had much more success in his second game of the preseason, completing 5 of 6 passes for 49 yards and setting up a touchdown in Carolina’s 34-17 victory against the Jack...

AUGUST 22 • Associated Press

A.J. Dillon drives up the middle for 7-yard TD Carolina Panthers running back A.J. Dillon drives up the middle for 7-yard TD.

AUGUST 22 • PANTHERS.COM

A.J. Dillon sends Panthers a timely reminder with roster pressure building A.J. Dillon didn't need a huge workload to prove his point.

AUGUST 11 • CATCRAVE.COM

Panthers' newest backup quarterback has some history with head coach Dave Canales

The Carolina Panthers’ newest backup quarterback has a history with head coach Dave Canales

AUGUST 10 • Associated Press

Impresses in HOF Game Dillon rushed three times for 18 yards and a touchdown and secured his only target for 18 yards in the Panthers' 33-30 preseason win over the Cardinals on Thursday.

Impact Dillon's first three touches came in consecutive fashion early in the second quarter, as he rattled off his 18-yard reception and then gained four yards on his first run of the night. The veteran back followed it up with a one-yard touchdown run on the next play, and his final rush attempt of the night was a game-long 13-yard run to start the following possession. Dillon was the second back in the game behind Trevor Etienne, and the former will look to continue making a strong impression in the Panthers' second preseason game on the road against the Bills on Saturday, Aug. 15.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

AJ Dillon's 1-yard TD cuts Cardinals' lead to 7-6 in 2026 Hall of Fame Game Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon closes in on the Arizona Cardinals lead with a one-yard rushing touchdown.

AUGUST 7 • PANTHERS.COM

AJ Dillon's first preseason touch as a Panther gets Carolina close to end-zone access Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon barrels towards the end zone on an 18-yard reception.

AUGUST 7 • PANTHERS.COM

With Rico Dowdle gone, Panthers need production from backup RBs | Sporting News Carolina's run-first offense will need backups Jonathon Brooks, Trevor Etienne and AJ Dillon to support the RB1.

JUNE 26 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

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Bryce Young and the Panthers find better footing in a 34-17 victory at the Jaguars

Panthers' newest backup quarterback has some history with head coach Dave Canales