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7 Cowboys Playing Their Way Out of Dallas' 2025 Plans

The losses continue to pile up for the Dallas Cowboys. Unless things change, these seven Cowboys may have already played themselves out of the franchise's 2025 plans.

By Devon Platana

Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) celebrates his first down run against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) celebrates his first down run against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
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2. Rico Dowdle, RB

Sticking on the topic of running backs, Rico Dowdle's future with the Cowboys is also up in the air.

The ex-South Carolina product was solid as Tony Pollard's back last season, amassing 505 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 106 touches in 16 games. Some Cowboys fans thought that performance left Dowdle more deserving of the No. 1 RB job over Elliott, especially since he's also a few years younger than the latter.

Dowdle has gone on to start five of his six appearances, however, his performance has been anything but otherworldly. The former undrafted free agent has 246 rushing yards on 59 carries but has yet to find the back of the end zone on the ground. Having said that, he does have 131 receiving yards and a pair of TDs on 16 catches.

Assuming he continues at his current pace, Dowdle is projected to finish the 2024 season with just over 1,000 scrimmage yards and eight TDs. While those are far from horrible numbers, they aren't RB1 numbers that the Cowboys have desperately lacked in recent years. In fact, that would even be worse than Pollard's performance as the lead back last year.

With both Dowdle and Elliott underperforming, don't be surprised if the Cowboys' next No. 1 running back is found in the 2025 NFL Draft.

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