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Cowboys Sign RB Rico Dowdle; Tony Pollard Backup?

The Dallas Cowboys opted not to place a tender on the Rico Dowdle at the start of free agency, but the former Gamecock is back regardless. On Tuesday, Dowdle’s representation announced that he has re-signed with the Cowboys for the 2023 season.
Timm Hamm|
Cowboys Sign RB Rico Dowdle; Tony Pollard Backup?
Cowboys Sign RB Rico Dowdle; Tony Pollard Backup?

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Rico Dowdle had his NFL door open back in 2020 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. Now, after a history of injury after season-ending injury, that door was thought to be closed.

But not so fast.

The Dallas Cowboys opted not to place a tender on the 6-0, 215-pound running back at the start of free agency, but the former Gamecock is back regardless. On Tuesday, Dowdle’s representation, Sports Trust Advisors, announced that he has re-signed with the Cowboys for the 2023 season in a post on Twitter.

Dowdle's special-teams work as both a kick returner and on the coverage unit helped him make the roster in 2020 alongside Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, where he had a 64-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but failed to make an impact otherwise.

The following season, he appeared on his way to making the roster again, when a hip fracture in the preseason ended his campaign prematurely. In 2022, Dowdle returned again but missed time in OTAs with a knee injury.

But the Cowboys' door remained open enough that Dallas invited him to training camp in 2022, and even with Malik Davis showing flashes, Dowdle still excelled on special teams and garnered himself a roster spot.

However, five games into last season, Dowdle landed back on the IR with an ankle injury.

The Dallas coaches and front office clearly see enough in Dowdle - who will be just 25 in June - to keep that door open for him for yet another season.

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Timm Hamm
TIMM HAMM

Timm Hamm has been a sports reporter and analyst since 2018 working for media outlets such as Sports Illustrated's On SI, Lindy’s Sports, Golf Central Magazine, and Fan Stream Sports. Timm hosts and produces several sports-related podcasts for the Fan Stream Sports network, covering the PGA Tour, Dallas Cowboys, Texas A&M Aggies, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as numerous other NFL teams and college programs, and is a credentialed media personality for the Big 12 and SEC. For media inquiries, please email: TimothyHamm@aol.com and follow Timm on X at @IndyCarTim

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