The Dallas Cowboys did not have their best season in terms of rushing yards. For 2025, they let Rico Dowdle walk away, despite the solid numbers he had posted during his initial stint with the team known as the Lone Star franchise.
Dowdle moved on to the Carolina Panthers, where he played a key role in a dramatic push to the postseason. Carolina ultimately was eliminated, but not before putting up a strong fight against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round, showing resilience and competitiveness.
Now that the Panthers’ season has come to an end, roster movement is expected, and it appears increasingly possible that the running back, who enjoyed a strong year in Carolina, could be preparing to part ways with the franchise.
That possibility grows stronger considering Dallas may need him back if negotiations with Javonte Williams do not go as planned. It is worth recalling that during the final seasons under Mike McCarthy, Dowdle was not heavily utilized by the head coach.
Because of that limited role, and because Jerry Jones did little to retain him, Dowdle chose to leave, a decision that the Cowboys’ owner and general manager would later regret, as the running back was entering the best stretch of his career.
With the Panthers, Dowdle managed to maintain a high level of performance. During the 2025 season, he recorded:
- 1,076 yards
- 6 touchdowns
- 4.6 yards per carry
Dowdle signed only a one-year deal with Carolina worth $2.75 million, and based on his production throughout the season, he earned additional incentives:
- $500K for 600 scrimmage yards
- $500K for 950 scrimmage yards (reaching over 1,000+)
- $250K for 6 total touchdowns
- $1 million for reaching 1,350 scrimmage yards
Rico Dowdle felt frustrated with the Carolina Panthers
One significant reason Dowdle may be considering not continuing with the Panthers is that during the second half of the season his usage was noticeably reduced, something that clearly did not sit well with the running back.
When asked by the media why he believed the coaching staff limited his carries throughout the year, Dowdle offered a brief and blunt response.
No idea
Would Rico Dowdle return to the Dallas Cowboys?
Now that he has become an unrestricted free agent, Dowdle could potentially return to the Dallas Cowboys. This possibility arises because the player no longer felt comfortable with how he was used offensively late in the previous season.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys expect Javonte Williams to sign a long-term deal, but if that situation does not materialize, the team could look to bring Dowdle back home as a viable option.
The ideal scenario for Dallas would be to have both running backs as their one-two punch, maintaining dominance on offense. No one has forgotten what Dowdle did against the Cowboys in Week 6, when he posted an impressive 239 yards.
With McCarthy no longer in the organization and Brian Schottenheimer now in charge, Dowdle could have a strong second opportunity to help Dallas climb back to the top offensively, despite the financial challenges such a move would present.
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