Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle blocks Ezekiel Elliott from making a little NFL history

On By Littum

After losing Tony Pollard to the Tennessee Titans during free agency, the Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones chose not to shell out any significant cash to sign a high-caliber replacement like Derrick Henry or JK Dobbins.

Instead, Jones opted to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott, who was drafted fourth overall by the Cowboys in 2016 and made three Pro Bowls in his initial run with Dallas, which ended with his release after the 2022 campaign. After spending last season with the New England Patriots, Zeke was brought back on a one-year deal.

Jones also opted to hand a second straight one-year deal to Rico Dowdle, who has been with the organization since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

With all due respect, a 1-2 punch of Elliott and Dowdle didn’t exactly give fans of America’s Team much hope for a great year on Earth. And for most of the season, that’s how things went, as Dallas had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.

Elliott has been nothing short of a disaster. After rushing for 40 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns, the Ohio State alum failed to break 20 yards in any of the following five games.

And not long after he was suspended for a game in early November for disciplinary reasons, Zeke had his “lead back” status stripped when Mike McCarthy wanted to give Dowdle more details.

Of course, that decision has worked wonderfully, as Dowdle has been on fire lately, even making some NFL history over the past three weeks with a trio of 100-plus-yard performances.

As such, Elliott’s touches have dropped dramatically, effectively costing him a chance at his own story.

Ezekiel Elliott is two scores shy of becoming the 28th player in NFL history with 75 career rushing TDs

While Elliott has just two rushing touchdowns on the season, the first against the Browns in Week 1 and the second against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, the ninth-year veteran has an impressive 73 for his career.

Simple math tells us he needs just two more to reach 75, a number only 27 others have accomplished in more than 100 years of NFL history. So it’s a big thing.

But with Dowdle doing what he’s been doing, Elliott probably won’t get the chance to reach that milestone. After his 10-carry effort against the Niners, Zeke logged just 13 total in his next five outings.

He carried the ball nine times last Sunday in the Cowboys’ win over the Panthers, but the vast majority of those came in the second half when the score was already decided, with five alone coming on the final drive as Dallas simply tried to run out the clock.

Since the Cowboys likely won’t blow out any of their last three opponents, don’t think Elliott will see the field that much. And given his overall performance this year (or lack thereof), one has to wonder if this will be his last NFL season.

If Zeke ends his career with the same 73 rushing touchdowns he has now, it will still be a remarkable number. But you’d think he knows where he is and would love to reach 75.

It’s just that Dowdle is standing in his way. And with Rico looking to score a new contract, whether it’s with the Cowboys or not, it stands to reason he won’t want to give up any touches down the goal line.

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