Could Rico Dowdle return to the Cowboys?

[atlantacowboy]

High priority according to Jerry.

Which usually means he's not. The man just throws the expression around between 'umms' and 'errs'

 

[Carson]

I’d rather keep Williams or go younger

 

[jazzcat22]

Pass.
Recycle and regurgitate players.

Move on, draft a RB in the late rounds. Plus see if Blue improves, and see what Mafah can do, both in their 2nd year.

 

[baltcowboy]

Williams was terrible in Denver. They said that after his injury he was no longer effective. Thus they were willing to let him go.

The national media will never admit this but if the Broncos had kept Javonte, they would have probably made the Super Bowl. Their running game fell apart when their free agent signing got hurt again.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The national media will never admit this but if the Broncos had kept Javonte, they would have probably made the Super Bowl.

Not with Jarrett Stidham.

 

[SymphonySteve]

PFF says it makes sense:

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2026-nfl-free-agency-top-landing-spots-running-backs

"With run-game mastermind Klayton Adams having great success in his first season as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator, it may be time for a reunion between Dowdle and his former team.

Dowdle is at his best when running behind pull blocks. He generated 6.5 yards per attempt while ripping off nine runs of 10 or more yards on power, counter and pull-lead concepts in 2025, both of which placed him inside the top five among qualifying backs. He would be a perfect fit in Adams' power running game, as the Cowboys ran the fourth-most runs out of those three concepts."

Whaddayathink?

 

[baltcowboy]

Not with Jarrett Stidham.

Goodness he was awful but maybe they would have run the ball more after they took the lead early. You never know.

 

[kskboys]

Meh. Rico is the guy who tears up trash D's, then does nothing against good Ds. Javonte is better, and it's not close. He's easily worth double what Rico will get.

 

[kskboys]

Williams was terrible in Denver. They said that after his injury he was no longer effective. Thus they were willing to let him go.

Which was dumber'n dirt. Common knowledge that it takes 1-2 years to recover form his type surgery. It was obvious he didn't have his burst back in DEN. Year 2 after the surgery, he did. Very strange that a team wouldnt' know this.

Javonte is the best RB we've had since Demarco. Jerry would be smart to get him signed.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Told you all Dowdle was a starter! The Cowboys never gave him a chance when they brought back a worn down Zeke.

Yeah...those 74 attempts robbed Rico hard!

FYI- Rico had 235 attempts, almost exactly the same as Panthers.

 

[kskboys]

Pass.
Recycle and regurgitate players.

Move on, draft a RB in the late rounds. Plus see if Blue improves, and see what Mafah can do, both in their 2nd year.

Late round RBs work out like 1% of the time. The Pacheco's of the league are rare.

 

[DCBoysfan]

Dallas is not going to pay JW and then turn around and pay Rico what he would want.

I just don't see that happening.

 

[kskboys]

Dallas is not going to pay JW and then turn around and pay Rico what he would want.

I just don't see that happening.

Incredibly dumb.

Especially since JW appears to be durable. Aside from his one major injury, doesn't appear to be injury prone. Rico is.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I don't care which (Javonte or Rico) the Cowboys decide to keep, but they'd better stop being knuckleheads and this season actually play Blue.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Incredibly dumb.

Especially since JW appears to be durable. Aside from his one major injury, doesn't appear to be injury prone. Rico is.

Hmm...Javonte Williams was placed on season ending IR for Week 18 due to a neck/shoulder injury he suffered during Week 17. Had he suffered it earlier in the season, he definitely would have missed some games.

 

[ChuckA1]

I just don't want to spend a high draft pick on a RB when there are so many needs on defense.

 

[32BellyOption]

If Booger can’t resign Williams I’d be down. I thought we should have kept Rico to begin with.

 

[DC Cowboy]

nope, only b/c we need to save every penny to sign Pickens and Williams

 

[thunderpimp91]

nope, only b/c we need to save every penny to sign Pickens and Williams

I think the argument would be taking Dowdle over Williams, not both, and that would free up some money for Pickens and/or defensive help. Honestly depending on where the RB FA offers are coming in at it could be a smart value move IMO. They are a little bit different styles of backs, but the net results are pretty similar. If Williams ends up being a $10m per year back while Dowdle is at $5m I wouldnt be mad at all if they let Williams walk for a cheaper option.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

I'd rather have Javonte Williams back, but if he walks I wouldn't mind a Rico reunion.