Rico Dowdle ready to finally establish role with Cowboys after first three seasons

Listed at the No. 2 running back spot on the Cowboys’ roster for the first time in four seasons, Rico Dowdle believes this season could be the biggest opportunity of his life. His first big break was the chance to make the roster, now, he must establish himself as the reliable No. 2 behind Tony Pollard.

“Just coming in trying to do what I can do to help win games,” Dowdle said of his goal, via DallasCowboys.com. “Finding a role in the offense, I’ve been here four years so I’m definitely trying to find a role to see what I can do to help the team win. I’m looking forward to it because I haven’t really been out there since I’ve been here.”

“This is the biggest opportunity of my life just coming in and making the team,” he added. “Now it’s the biggest opportunity of my life to go out there and show what I can do in the National Football League.”

Dowdle, a former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, didn’t record a snap for Dallas last season. However, in 2020, he had seven carries within 15 game appearances.

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.

A pending free agent this offseason, the Cowboys signed him to a one-year deal for $1.04 million in March to keep him with them. Going into his fourth season in the league, Dowdle is still just 25 years old.

Cowboys go with Vaughn behind Dowdle

He’ll be working with Tony Pollard and Deuce Vaughn, mainly, to open up the Cowboys offense for Dak Prescott and the receivers. Dowdle believes the group’s biggest strength is their differences.

“We got a bunch of different type of styles and guys in there,” he said. “I think for us, it’ll help us going in there with different looks and just messing the defense up. I think we can also all do it all, some guys just excel at some things more than others.”

“They can’t gameplan for just one type of style in there. It’s multiple, they have to be ready for many different types.”

Deuce Vaughn, a sixth-round selection for Dallas, is another player McCarthy is excited to get involved on offense, on top of potential kick return duties. Vaughn measured in at 5-foot-5 at this year’s NFL Combine, making him the shortest player measured in combine history.

What he lacks in size, he makes up for in speed, quickness, and versatility. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons for the Wildcats, also racking up 116 career receptions for 1,280 yards in his three seasons in Manhattan.

Besides Pollard, the Dallas Cowboys have two other running backs on the roster, including fullback Hunter Luepke. He and free agent pickup Ronald Jones are also in the mix. However, Jones is suspended for the first two games of the season.

By committee most likely, the Cowboys will need to replace the 800+ yards that Elliott provided in the running game. Catching the ball is also a must. Although Elliott only had 17 catches last season, it’s clearly a skill the team values in its running backs.