FRISCO, Texas - The Cowboys brought back Ezekiel Elliott in the offseason and just recently added Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook to the practice squad with the idea he can contribute this year.
But Rico Dowdle expects to be a big part of the running back position this year, if not the biggest. He said staying healthy, something has plagued him early in his career, along with being a three-down back, are things Dowdle is leaning on to gain more playing time.
Asked if adding Zeke in the summer or Cook this week is extra motivation for Dowdle, he took a different perspective.
"It's not any extra motivation. I've got two kids. That's all the motivation I need. I've got two little girls," Dowdle said. "It's nice having a guy like Dalvin come in and Zeke and those guys have been in the Pro Bowl. It's a lot of experience. I just take it all in and go out there and continue to do what I do."
So far, everything Dowdle has done has been in a limited role. Since he arrived in 2020, Dowdle has missed 31 games, mostly to injury. He missed all of 2021 with a hip injury and 12 games in 2022 with an ankle injury.
"Last year, I missed one game and I probably could've played. So I was pretty healthy last year," Dowdle said. "That's definitely a focus of mine. I never want to miss a game. Availability is the best ability. I'm definitely doing everything I can not to be in the training room."
And while the Cowboys have some experience in the running back room now with Elliott and eventually Cook, not to mention a change-of-pace back in Deuce Vaughn, Dowdle knows what he's got to do to stay on the field – and that's a little bit of everything.
"With running backs, the more you can do the better," said Dowdle, who had 505 total offensive yards last season. "When you can catch the ball out of the backfield, run routes, and also run the ball well … it's hard to take you off the field. I want to be a three-down back in the NFL. You definitely want to show that I can do all of the above and check all of those backfield."
