Dowdle carried the ball four times for 21 yards and caught all three of his targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-16 loss to the Cardinals.
Starting running back Tony Pollard ran for 122 yards on the day, but it was Dowdle who found the end zone, catching a 15-yard pass from Dak Prescott in the second quarter for Dallas' only TD. The touchdown was the first of Dowdle's NFL career in his 23rd game. As long as Pollard remains healthy, Dowdle's fantasy ceiling will be limited, but he's seen between six and eight touches in every game so far in 2023.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Eight touches in Sunday's win
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Dowdle carried the ball seven times for 26 yards and caught his only target for 17 yards in Sunday's 30-10 win over the Jets.
Tony Pollard saw 32 touches as the Cowboys' lead back and produced 109 yards from scrimmage, but Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and KaVontae Turpin combined for 17 touches between them as Dallas romped to another big victory. As long as the team keeps blowing away opponents -- something that could easily happen again Week 3 against the winless Cardinals -- there will be opportunities for the backup options at RB to poach a little fantasy value, but it would take an injury to Pollard to make Dowdle a viable play in most formats.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Late usage in rout
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Dowdle carried the ball six times for 24 yards in Sunday's 40-0 win over the Giants.
The Cowboys' defense and special teams units took control of the game early before Tony Pollard punched in two short TDs, so Dowdle saw most of his action in what was effectively garbage time. Dowdle was more productive than rookie Deuce Vaughn on the same numbers of touches, however. With Pollard locked into the top spot on the backfield depth chart, there may not be many opportunities left over for any other backs, but Dowdle at least seems to be the clear No. 2 option.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Records receiving TD
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Dowdle rushed eight times for 38 yards and brought in two of three targets for nine yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' 22-14 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night. He also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.
Dowdle tied with Malik Davis for the team lead in carries and set the pace in rushing yards. The 25-year-old, who was the first Dallas running back to log a touch Saturday, could be making up ground on Davis for a roster spot after two solid exhibition efforts. He should have a final chance to make a case for himself in next Saturday night's home preseason finale against the Raiders.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Solid game marred by fumble
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Dowdle carried the ball six times for 21 yards and caught all three of his targets for 33 yards in Saturday's 28-23 preseason loss to the Jaguars.
Deuce Vaughn was the star of the Cowboys backfield Saturday, but Dowdle outproduced presumed No. 2 RB Malik Davis, who got the start but managed only 22 yards from scrimmage on eight touches. Unfortunately, Dowdle also committed a crucial fumble just outside Jacksonville's end zone at the end of the first quarter after catching a short pass from Cooper Rush. The battle for backup snaps behind Tony Pollard (ankle) remains open, but Dowdle likely can't afford many more big mistakes if he wants to stay in the mix.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Making push for backup spot
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Dowdle is in the mix to win the top backup job behind Tony Pollard in the Cowboys' backfield, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The 25-year-old has just seven NFL carries since being signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020, as injuries have disrupted his career so far, but Dowdle is drawing high marks in training camp for his football IQ and blocking ability. His value as a special-teams player could secure him a spot on the 53-man roster regardless of how much usage he sees on offense, but with Ronald Jones (suspension) set to miss the first two games of the regular season, the door is open for Dowdle to push Malik Davis for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Re-ups with Dallas
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The Cowboys are re-signing Dowdle on Tuesday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle rejoins a Dallas backfield room now lacking Ezekiel Elliott, currently making him the No. 3 man behind Tony Pollard (ankle) and Malik Davis. Of course, the Cowboys will likely still add personnel to the backfield as the offseason progresses. Dowdle mostly handled special-teams work in his five appearances last season.
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Rico Dowdle: Not tendered by Dallas
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Dallas didn't extend Dowdle (ankle) a qualifying offer or contract tender as a restricted free agent Wednesday, so he's officially an unrestricted free agent, per the NFL's transaction log.
Dowdle appeared in five games for the Cowboys in 2022, playing nearly exclusively on special teams, before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury in October. He spent the rest of the season on IR, but now that he's healthy, the undrafted running back out of South Carolina will look to land a new deal in free agency. The 24-year-old also has experience as a kick returner, would should boost his value this summer.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Misses practice Thursday
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Dowdle (ankle) was unable to practice Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle missed a second consecutive practice Thursday due to an ankle injury, and leaving his status for Sunday night's divisional showdown against the Eagles up in the air. Expect rookie running back Malik Davis to make his NFL debut against Philadelphia if Dowdle can't suit up.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Gets spot on initial 53-man
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Dowdle has a spot on the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Dowdle has been with the Cowboys since first signing as an undrafted rookie in 2020, and he spent all of last season on injured reserve after fracturing his hip in August. He's healthy this year and seems to have won the No. 3 running back job, though it's often a fluid position with teams scouring the waiver wire for alternatives.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Opens preseason loss as starter
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Dowdle (illness) rushed nine times for 36 yards in the Cowboys' 17-7 preseason loss to the Broncos on Saturday night.
Dowdle fared reasonably well with his opportunities and paced the Cowboys in carries on the night. The 24-year-old Dowdle and undrafted rookie Malik Davis, his primary competitor for the No. 3 running back job, were similarly productive, so their job battle will continue in next Saturday night's road exhibition matchup against the Chargers.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Out for now
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Dowdle will miss the remainder of this week's training camp practices after testing positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle is going through a rough stretch, having missed the 2021 season with a hip fracture and then getting his knee scoped in May, which led to his absence from OTAs. He'll now have to remain away from the team until he receives medical clearance. Dowdle joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2020 and saw the field for 15 contests in his rookie season, but he mostly just contributed on special teams. Dowdle is currently No. 3 on Dallas' running back positional depth chart, firmly behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Gets knee scoped
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Dowdle isn't participating in OTAs after recently undergoing a knee scope, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle spent the entire 2021 season on injured reserve due to a fractured hip, but he appears to have made a full recovery from that injury. Instead, making a full recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery is now the main concern for Dowdle, who is still expected to be ready to participate in training camp. If available for camp, Dowdle will be competing for a depth role in the Dallas backfield behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: To IR with hip injury
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Dowdle was placed on IR due to a hip injury Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Dowdle is set to spend the entire 2021 campaign on IR, unless he can reach an injury settlement with the Cowboys. After having played a regular role on special teams as a rookie in 2020, Dowdle will now set his sights toward making a full recovery for the 2022 season.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Limited action as No. 2
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Dowdle carried the ball four times for 11 yards and returned three kickoffs for 88 yards in Sunday's win over the 49ers.
With Ezekiel Elliott (calf) sidelined, Tony Pollard moved into the lead role in the backfield and erupted for 132 yards from scrimmage and two TDs, leaving Pollard's usual spot as the backup RB and kickoff returner in the hands of Dowdle. The undrafted rookie wasn't able to make much impact on offense, but he did impress as a return man. Even if Elliott returns to the lineup Week 16, Pollard's performance may earn him a bigger workload, potentially opening the door for Dowdle to become the Cowboys' primary kickoff returner to close out the year.
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Cowboys' Rico Dowdle: Elevates to top backup role
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Dowdle is expected to serve as the Cowboys' top backup running back behind Tony Pollard with Ezekiel Elliott (calf) inactive for the contest, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
So long as the contest remains competitive, expect Pollard to see the overwhelming share of snaps and touches out of the backfield, as Dowdle -- an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina -- has yet to be entrusted with a meaningful role on offense. Since logging three carries on three snaps in garbage time Week 6 against Arizona, Dowdle's action has come exclusively on special teams over the subsequent seven games.
