Dallas Cowboys re-sign free agent running back Rico Dowdle

The Dallas Cowboys opted not to place a tender on running back Rico Dowdle at the start of free agency but the former Gamecock is back regardless. Dowdle’s representation, Sports Trust Advisors, announced that he has re-signed with the Cowboys for the 2023 season in a post on Twitter on Tuesday morning.

Dowdle, an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, has three years in the league under his belt. The 6-foot-0, 215-pound running back didn’t post stats for the Cowboys during the 2022 season but he appeared in five games.

During the 2021 season, the Cowboys had to place Dowdle on injured reserve. He suffered a hip fracture in the preseason. Prior to 2022, he also had a knee scope that kept him out of OTAs.

Running it back @ricodowdle#LegendsLiveHere #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/H1FyIGZAAh

— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) March 21, 2023

In 2020, his rookie season, Dowdle had seven rush attempts for 24 yards. Out of South Carolina, he signed a three-year contract for $2.3 million, including $110,000 guaranteed.

Although the Cowboys did not tender Dowdle, they did place a second-round tender on their other restricted free agent, Terence Steele. The former Texas Tech star suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-December but he’ll be ready to play the season in 2023.

Steele, who went undrafted out of Texas Tech, joined the Cowboys in 2020. He signed a three-year deal for $2.3 million at the time. Dallas still hopes to work on a long-term deal with Steele.

As for Dowdle, he returns to the Cowboys running back room with Tony Pollard and 2022 undrafted free agent Malik Davis.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. The Cowboys used their franchise tag this year on Tony Pollard.

The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.

There were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023, including 20 unrestricted free agents for Dallas. Follow all the Cowboys free agency news with the offseason tracker.