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Mike McCarthy names Rico Dowdle Cowboys’ lead running back

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•11/14/24•

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South Carolina football alum Rico Dowdle with the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
South Carolina football alum Rico Dowdle with the Dallas Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy made a big decision on running back Rico Dowdle ahead of their Week 11 game against the Houston Texans. On Thursday, McCarthy told reporters there will no longer be a running back by committee and Dowdle will be the lead back.

“Definitely, you have to get him the ball,” McCarthy said, per Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill. “That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.”

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In the Week 10 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dowdle rushed for 53 yards on 12 carries. Through eight games this year, Dowdle has rushed for 374 yards on 83 carries. As a receiver, the former South Carolina running back has caught 24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns.

Dowdle signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. In his limited action during the 2020 season, Dowdle rushed for 24 yards on seven carries. He missed the entire 2021 season due to a hip injury he suffered during a preseason game. In 2022, Dowdle saw action in five games on special teams before going down with an ankle injury.

Rico Dowdle has put together a solid 2024 season

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Dowdle saw his most action in 2023 when he became the backup running back behind Tony Pollard. In 16 games, Dowdle rushed for 361 yards and two touchdowns on 89 carries. He also caught 17 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

In the Week 9 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Dowdle had one of his best games of the season with 75 yards on 12 carries. “Coming in, we thought we’d be able to run the ball on them based off the looks and stuff like that,” Dowdle said, per the Cowboys’ official website. “I think it definitely worked out, definitely was a lot of holes. The line did a great job creating space up there.”

Earlier in the season, Dowdle rushed for 87 yards on 20 carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers and helped the team get a win. “It felt good. It was just like I said the whole time, it’s just all about finding a rhythm,” Dowdle said. “We stuck with it. The linemen were making holes and we were able to pound it down against a good Pittsburgh defense.”