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Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle.
Thank you, Rico Dowdle, for turning what would have otherwise been a pretty boring Week 6 game between the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers into something that might actually be watchable.
Dowdle, gassed up off a career high 206 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins in a Week 5 win with the Panthers, decided that was the right moment to send a message to his old team, the Cowboys.
(The Cowboys) gotta buckle up,” Dowdle said after the win over Miami. “I think they know.”
If they didn’t know, they do now.
Cowboys Cut Bait After 1,000 Yard Season
Dowdle, 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, made the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played mostly on special teams before sitting out all of the 2021 season with a hip injury.
He returned and played mostly on special teams still in 2022 before finally moving his way into a backup running back role in 2023, when he had 505 yards of total offense and 4 touchdowns in 16 games then had a breakout season in 2024 with 1,328 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns, including 1,079 rushing yards.
One drawback? Dowdle seemed allergic to reaching the end zone running the ball. He had just 2 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and the Cowboys didn’t even attempt to match a 1-year, $2.75 million free agent offer from Carolina.
Before his breakout game in Week 5 against the Dolphins, Dowdle had just 83 rushing yards through the first 4 games playing behind Chuba Hubbard, who sat out against Miami with a calf injury.
AFC West Free Agent Becomes Star RB in Dallas
Perhaps the most insulting thing for Dowdle as he exited the Cowboys was his former team decided to sign another free agent running back to a deal for essentially the same amount of money, bringing in former Denver Broncos starter Javonte Williams on a 1-year, $3 million contract.
Williams has been nothing less than a revelation for the Cowboys. He is also coming off his own career game with 135 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 16 carries in a win over the New York Jets in Week 5.
While Hubbard leads the Panthers with 289 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns through 5 games, Williams leads the Cowboys with 447 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns to go with 17 receptions for 78 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Cowboys only rushed for 5 touchdowns, total, in 2024.
Interestingly, both Williams and Hubbard are averaging 5.7 yards per carry this season.
In another twist, Williams also saw his first team turn its back on him when the Broncos declined to bring him back after he averaged under 4.0 yards per carry each of the last 2 seasons.
“Javonte Williams has absolutely re-resurrected his career in Dallas,” Fox Sports analyst and 3-time Super Bowl champion tight end Rob Gronkowski said after the Cowboys defeated the Jets. “Over 100 yards in the first half kind of says it all.”
Huge Game for Both Teams in Week 6
While there might be some shade thrown at the Dallas-Carolina game in Week 6, it’s a massive game for both teams.
The Panthers are off to a surprising 2-3 start under second year head coach Dave Canales and have won just 7 games over the last 2 seasons, including a 2-15 record in 2023.
The Cowboys are 2-2-1 and have one of the league’s best offenses, led by quarterback and NFL MVP candidate Dak Prescott.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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