Tag: Rico Dowdle
Cowboys to proceed with Rico Dowdle as lead RB
Looking for an infusion of energy, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday the team will move forward with Rico Dowdle as the lead running back over Ezekiel Elliott.
The public declaration of moving on from the running-back-by-committee setup confirmed what already was evident, with Dowdle making seven starts this season to two for Elliott. The former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina also leads the team in carries (83) and yards rushing (374).
“Definitely, you have to get him the ball,” McCarthy told reporters about Dowdle. “That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.”
Without a rushing touchdown this season, Dowdle does have three receiving TDs on 24 catches for 166 yards.
It has been a rough season for the Cowboys, who are just 3-6 and on a four-game losing streak after Sunday’s 34-6 domination by the Philadelphia Eagles. Dowdle’s 53 yards rushing against the Eagles were more than the 45 yards passing from quarterback Cooper Rush on 23 attempts.
Dowdle, 26, is in his fourth NFL season, not counting 2021, which he missed with a hip injury. He was the third-string back in 2022 and was backup to Tony Pollard last season. Elliott, drafted by the Cowboys with the No. 4 overall pick in 2016, spent seven seasons with Dallas before signing a one-year free agent deal with the New England Patriots in 2023.
In his return to the Cowboys in 2024, the 29-year-old Elliott has just 171 yards on 54 carries with two touchdowns.
Dowdle has played in 44 career games since 2020 but did not make a start until this season. He has gained 759 yards rushing with two touchdowns on 179 carries and also has 41 career receptions for 310 yards and five TDs.
The Cowboys host the Houston Texans (6-4) on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott (disciplinary reasons) out vs. Falcons
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will not play in Sunday’s game against the host Atlanta Falcons because of disciplinary reasons, ESPN reported on Saturday.
The Cowboys since have announced that Elliott will not travel with the team to Atlanta and will be inactive for the game.
Fellow running back Rico Dowdle is expected to be back in action after sitting out Dallas’ 30-24 setback to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday due to illness. Dalvin Cook was elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week.
The Cowboys (3-4) have lost two straight heading into Sunday’s game versus the Falcons (5-3), who have won four of their last five games.
Elliott, 29, has 48 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season. The three-time Pro Bowl selection signed a one-year contract with Dallas in April.
Elliott played for Dallas from 2016-22 after the team selected him No. 4 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent last season with the New England Patriots after being released by Dallas.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in 2016 and 2018 and posted four 1,000-yard seasons with Dallas. He ranks third in Cowboys history in rushing yards (8,411) and rushing touchdowns (70) behind Hall of Fame members Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
–Field Level Media