Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Rico Dowdle has officially rushed for 1,000 yards on the season. The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 season with an interesting approach to the running back position, one that many would argue did not exactly go well for them. In spite of the unorthodox approach, the Cowboys can still say that someone managed to run for 1,000 yards on the season. Rico Dowdle reached the mark on Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rico Dowdle is now officially the first UDFA for the #DallasCowboys to have 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. — Tommy Yarrish (@tommy_yarrish) December 29, 2024 That Dowdle has reached 1,000 yards is incredible when you consider that he did not reach double-digit carries on the season until the fourth game of the year. In fact, Dowdle had single-digit carries in four of the first six games of the season and missed a game entirely due to illness. Notably, Dowdle hit 1,000 rushing yards in 16 games (not his 16th played as mentioned) and did not need the 17th that the NFL added a handful of years back. 2024 will be remembered in a lot of poor ways for the Cowboys, but this was a bright spot, especially considering that Dowdle was an undrafted free agent who had to battle through several injuries to stick around and have a shot with the Cowboys.

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images The Cowboys take on the Eagles in Week 17. The Dallas Cowboys take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Enjoy! This is an open thread for game chat.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The conversations about tanking have been all over the place as of late. The Cowboys learned that they were officially eliminated from the playoffs just a few hours before kickoff against the Buccaneers this past week, and they came out with an inspiring performance that led to a win. A few days later, the team decided to shut down CeeDee Lamb for the final two games over his shoulder injury. At first blush, the move seems to be the first real admission from the Cowboys that their season is over and there’s no longer a “fight for the slim playoff hopes” mentality that Mike McCarthy and others had been preaching. But there haven’t been any similar moves, such as going to Trey Lance at quarterback. The Lamb injury decision makes sense, but the Cowboys don’t seem to be in full tank mode even now. Is there anything meaningful left to play for? Our own Tom Ryle and David Howman discuss: Tom: Let’s start with the players. There are three groups to consider, each with their own motivation to perform well. First are the ones entering free agency. Obviously they want to put a couple more games of good tape out there for prospective new employers, as well as to make a case for Dallas to bring them back. Mailing in a performance would have a negative impact on their attractiveness. Then there are the depth players who are still going to be under contract. With the new cycle of player acquisition about to start, they want to build a case to make it at least to training camp to continue their careers. Adding a bit to the résumé not only helps that, it could lead to a future job if they don’t make it through the cutdown. Finally, there are the veterans whose positions are secure. Some of them might be shut down going forward just as a precaution, but those that aren’t have an important motivator: Pride. They play the game to win, and hanging losses on a couple of division rivals would take some of the edge off a losing season. Of course, who sees the field and how much is not in their hands. That is on the staff, who has some decisions to make. David: I think it goes deeper than that. I won’t deny that these players are thinking about next year to some degree, but after that win over the Buccaneers I believe this team still feels they have something to prove. Mike McCarthy has probably locked up a contract extension at this point regardless of what happens these next two weeks. But we’ve seen some meaningful culture developments over the course of this trying season. Micah Parsons has blossomed into a leader on defense and CeeDee Lamb has become an iron man and reliable playmaker. The win over the Buccaneers showed how much pride these guys take in winning just for the sake of winning. To turn around and start playing young guys just for the sake of evaluating instead of trying to win would undermine all that positive momentum. The Lamb decision makes sense because of his injury, but I believe (and hope) the team keeps trying to win and play spoiler. Tom: I still think there is value to seeing what some of the down-roster players can bring to the table. Additionally, they need to be very, very cautious with the health of any of their established players. Don’t let pride get in the way of setting themselves up for next year. But I will concede that the coaching staff has their own motivation to win. McCarthy is not the only one who is coaching for his future. I believe that most of the staff are playing out their contracts. Just like the players, they are trying to prove they have value for the organization or for another. Robert Prince has a tall order to try and get as much out of the wide receivers as he can with Lamb’s absence, and with that group they have to find out what the depth players can contribute. Lunda Wells has a similar objective with the tight ends, especially if Jake Ferguson is a bit nicked up. There are similar situations on the defensive side of things with all the players who have been injured. The team has no choice but to find out what some of the backups are capable of, because they are going to have to see the field just to have enough players. We can agree that tanking is just not going to happen, and hopefully they will find out some good things. David: I’m not sure there’s much question left for this coaching staff, at least for the Joneses. McCarthy is almost definitely returning, and Jerry has all but said he and Zimmer are a package deal. There may be a couple coaches down the staff who shift around, but continuity at the top generally means continuity for the majority of the staff. And given what we’ve seen the last month or so, that’s a good thing. One thing that McCarthy has stressed the most since getting to Dallas, though, is the importance of winning divisional games. Curiously, this is one thing that’s remained strong for the Cowboys this year despite everything else falling apart. They’re 3-1 in the NFC East and have a chance to finish out 5-1 in the division, all while potentially dropping their rivals down the playoff seeding ladder. If we know this staff is coming back next year, then winning these next two games would be huge for their confidence heading into 2025. Being able to look back and say “We won 99% of our divisional games” in a lost year would signal just how close they are to reclaiming the NFC East. And since they’ll already be forced to play some younger guys, as you said, they might as well make the most of it with

Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Your Sunday morning Cowboys news. Cowboys’ RB eyes milestone for first time in career – Mario Herrera Jr., Inside the Star Since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, Rico Dowdle has worked hard. With another stellar performance, he could earn a significant accolade for the first time in his career. RB Rico Dowdle is looking to secure the first 1,000 yard rushing season of his career, and he needs just 97 yards to get there. Will Dowdle Get There? If we take a sample from the previous four games, Dowdle should have no problem reaching the 1,000 yard mark before the clock hits all zeroes in AT&T Stadium in week 18. I wouldn’t rule out it happening this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, but setting our sights on week 18 is more realistic. Dowdle currently averages just 64.5 yards per game, but that number is not indicative of his recent usage. He split carries exclusively with Ezekiel Elliott and sometimes Deuce Vaughn at the beginning of the season. It wasn’t until after QB Dak Prescott went down with injury that HC Mike McCarthy announced Dowdle would be the lead back and take the bulk of the carries. The Buccaneers did a good job of bottling up the Cowboys run game. Dowdle managed just 23 yards rushing on 13 carries with DT Vita Vea clogging up running lanes. Before the Bucs game, Dowdle matched a feat not reached since Emmitt Smith back in the late 1990s. Dowdle eclipsed the century mark in three consecutive games, averaging 131 yards per game to add his name to the Cowboys’ history books. Averaging just 48.5 yards rushing over the final two regular season games will make him the most recent player to accomplish that in a Cowboys uniform. Who Stands In His Way? Defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis might have something to say about Dowdle reaching the milestone against their defense. No team wants other players to break records against them, and it’s surely no different for the Philadelphia Eagles. How Cowboys’ Brock Hoffman has helped turn Rico Dowdle loose – Todd Archer, ESPN From one undrafted player to another, Brock Hoffman has helped unlock the Cowboys running game and Dowdle. Philadelphia Eagles fans are as rambunctious as they come, and while the Cowboys have already been eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday’s meeting (1 p.m. ET, Fox), the atmosphere should still be captivating. Brock Hoffman, the Cowboys’ right guard, will love it. Nobody talks more on the field than Hoffman. In hockey parlance, he is the Cowboys’ enforcer. In football lingo, he plays to the echo of the whistle. Two weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers, Hoffman, who moved to center because of Cooper Beebe’s absence due to a concussion, lost his voice in the fourth quarter. “Because he was making so many calls or talking s—, one of the two,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. The Cowboys’ offense found its identity when Hoffman replaced future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin, who underwent season-ending right ankle surgery, five games ago against the Washington Commanders. Running back Rico Dowdle finds himself 97 yards away from 1,000 on the season, mostly because of three straight 100-yard rushing games since Hoffman has started. Cooper Rushhas been sacked just six times in the past five games. It’s not all because of Hoffman, but teammates and coaches don’t dismiss what he has brought to the huddle. “Super consistent,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “His attitude and energy, what he brings to the workplace has just been on point since he’s been here. Super professional, so well-prepared. He’s got a connective personality, and he definitely deserves a lot of credit for the mindset and play style that he’s really pushed along up front.” Cornerback Jourdan Lewis called him a “force multiplier.” Schottenheimer said Hoffman has “in a lot of ways galvanized the way we play.” “He is not going to back down from anybody. His confidence in himself is extremely high,” Schottenheimer said. “He doesn’t look it himself, as a guy that’s undrafted. He’s been through the journey. Been in Cleveland, been here, been cut, been brought back. He’s now starting.” 3 Dallas Cowboys to start in fantasy football in Week 17 vs. Eagles – Ali Jawad, SI.com if you’re lucky to have made it this far, these Cowboys could carry you to a fantasy football championship Brandon Aubrey, K Kicker Brandon Aubrey has become “Aubrey-matic” when kicking from 50 plus yards out. Against Tampa last Sunday, the All-Pro went a perfect 4-4 including a pair of 58-yarders. Additionally, Aubrey set the NFL record for the most 50-plus yard field goals in a single season with 14, and he may still increase that total with two games remaining. Aubrey has consistently delivered double-digit fantasy scores, achieving this feat in eight games this season. His reliability makes him a must-start option, solidifying his position as one of the league’s most consistent kickers. Rico Dowdle, RB Running back Rico Dowdle’s three-game streak of 100-yard rushing performances came to an abrupt halt last Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The veteran running back was held to just 23 yards on 13 carries, a significant drop-off from his recent outings. Despite this setback, Dowdle remains a key figure in the Cowboys’ offense having received 10 or more carries in eight consecutive games. He enters this week’s matchup against the Eagles needing only 97 yards to reach the 1,000-yard rushing milestone. However, achieving this feat will be challenging against a formidable Eagles run defense that ranks ninth in the NFL, allowing just 102.9 rushing yards per game, but surrendered 113 yards to the Commanders last Sunday. NFC East update: Cowboys to play big role in division outcome-Jess Haynie, Blogging the Boys Despite being out of the playoff picture, the Dallas Cowboys will have a say in how the NFC East is won. The Cowboys are headed to Philadelphia this Sunday and then return home for

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images The last two games should feature plenty of Jalen Tolbert. The Cowboys have made it clear that they’re playing to win for the rest of 2024. But that didn’t stop them from shutting WR CeeDee Lamb down for the season with a shoulder injury. Though Brandin Cooks is the next man up on the depth chart, Dallas would be wise to use its final two games to see how Jalen Tolbert would respond to heavy targets in a featured offensive role. While motivated to get two more victories and finish the season above .500, Dallas’ most important work will come this offseason. Wide receiver is one position that will command attention. Cooks will be a free agent and turns 32 next September, plus hasn’t been a high producer in Mike McCarthy’s offense. Even if change does come on the coaching side, Cooks just isn’t that attractive for re-signing in general. That leaves Tolbert as the leading in-house candidate to join Lamb in the starting lineup. Over three years we’ve seen Tolbert make some amazing catches, including just last week against the Buccaneers, but he’s never had a huge individual game that inspires confidence about an increased workload. His career-best performance came last October against the Steelers; seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Dallas has had some other former third-round receivers like Terrance Williams and Michael Gallup. They could deliver highlight-reel catches, even in clutch moments, but never fully established themselves as clear number-two receivers. Williams had to fight Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and Cole Beasley for targets during his time, while Gallup became the third wheel after Lamb was drafted. That said, he did have a strong 2019 season with 1,107 yards and six touchdowns as Amari Cooper’s wingman. Obviously, Tolbert still has a long way to go to even match those players’ contributions. After 15 games he’s at just 482 receiving yards, albeit with six touchdowns. But with 42 catches on just 69 targets, he’s showing solid efficiency. It’s really a matter of getting more looks now and seeing how he could perform as a key offensive cog, and the Cowboys have an opportunity to put that to the test in these final games of 2024. With so many positions to address in the upcoming offseason, Dallas has to trust some of its returning talent to step up in 2025. That’s not to say they shouldn’t strike at WR if an opportunity arises, but there are only so many draft picks to use and so much of the salary cap that the front office is willing to spend. Tolbert, a Day 2 pick entering the final year of his rookie deal, is the kind of player you’d hope would fill one of those gaps. These last two games give the Cowboys a chance to have Tolbert run primary WR routes and receive a high volume of targets. Granted, Cooper Rush will be the one throwing the ball so you have to factor that into the evaluation. But it’s still a great opportunity to inspire confidence, both for Tolbert himself and for the organization as it strategizes for roster building going forward. Again, this isn’t to say that Jalen Tolbert should be WR2 in 2025. But in the high-minded attempt to win their remaining games, the Cowboys shouldn’t squander all opportunities to evaluate talent. Let’s see what Tolbert can do as a featured part of the offense and get a better sense of what he really offers as a future asset.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Jourdan Lewis has had such a remarkable season. The Dallas Cowboys didn’t bring back a lot of their in-house free agents before the 2024 season. One that did return on a one-year deal was cornerback Jourdan Lewis. For the second straight year, the Cowboys have been hit with devastating injuries at the cornerback spot with Trevon Diggs tearing his ACL early in 2023 and being shut down with another new injury this season. Plus, DaRon Bland missed 10 games this season with a stress fracture in his foot. The one constant at cornerback for Dallas the last two years has been Lewis. Last season, while playing in 16 games with eight starts, Lewis had 52 tackles, an interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles (career high), and two fumble recoveries. He has shown this year that Dallas was smart in bringing him back with 61 tackles (tied career high), an interception, seven pass breakups (most since 2021), a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Lewis hasn’t just been productive. He’s been one of the best defenders for the Cowboys all season, and he’s battled neck and elbow injuries along the way while doing so. This isn’t anything new for Lewis when looking at his career. He came out of the gate with a productive rookie campaign as he amassed 54 tackles, an interception, and 10 pass breakups. However, when the Cowboys brought in Kris Richard to be the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, Lewis was an afterthought because he liked bigger cornerbacks. A year later, Lewis was back to making plays and ended up with 51 tackles, two interceptions, and four sacks in Rod Marinelli’s last year as coordinator. The Cowboys were terrible defensively in 2020 under Mike Nolan. Despite this, Lewis was one of the bright spots with 59 tackles and two sacks. The Dan Quinn era began the next season and Lewis was a consistent presence with what could be his best season to date – 61 tackles, three interceptions (career high), 11 pass breakups (career high), 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. The only time Lewis wasn’t consistently productive during Quinn’s time in Dallas was in 2022 when he missed 11 games due to a Lisfranc injury. In fact, that injury and the aforementioned Richard not feeling like he could be effective have been the only times that Lewis hasn’t been a steady presence during his career. Lewis plays in the slot, which is an extremely difficult position to play because they’re on an island a lot of the time. Lewis has remained a pest for slot receivers over the past eight seasons due to his physical and scrappy nature and his ball-hawking ability. Another aspect that makes Lewis such a valuable piece is that his willing to provide support in the run game. He’s an all-around player, and he’s also shown that he can produce no matter who the coordinator is or what the scheme requires. Dallas will have its streak of three consecutive playoff appearances snapped this year. However, as far as Lewis goes, he isn’t trying to hear anything about giving up or tanking when it comes to the 2024 season, as he recently explained after the Cowboys defeated the Tampa Buccaneers. This is football. This is what I love to do. That’s loser talk. I don’t get into that. I wanna win no matter the circumstances. Whenever I put my cleats on, I’m gonna do my job. I wanna go out there and win. As far as tanking, or whatever they call it, I don’t indulge in that. I just love football. It don’t matter what contract year it is — I’m going out there to dominate. Lewis is up for another deal in 2025. Not only is Lewis still productive, but he’s reliable, having played in at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons in the NFL. The Cowboys should certainly bring him back to the team and keep the cornerback position stocked with proven players.