The Carolina Panthers didn't just lose their playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. It turns out, one of their key playmakers, Rico Dowdle, may have just played his last game in a Panther uniform. That development could give Jerry Jones an easy fallback option if the Dallas Cowboys’ intentions with starting running back Javonte Williams fall through.
Dowdle was misused by Mike McCarthy during his final season in Dallas, and he spent the first half of his stint in Carolina making Jerry Jones regret not finding a way to keep him around. He was at the top of his game in his final season with the Cowboys and carried that same level of production into his first year with the Panthers
However, following the Panthers’ Wild Card Weekend loss to the Rams, Dowdle didn’t hold back his frustration with the organization after his playing time declined in the second half of the season
When Dowdle was asked why he thinks his reps were cut, all he said was, "No idea." Dowdle added that the coaches never gave him an explanation as to why that happened.
Rico Dowdle has an opportunity to come back to play for the Cowboys
Dowdle was on a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Panthers, and he will be an unrestricted free agent with an opportunity to come back to Dallas. It sure sounds like Dowdle wants to find another team after totaling just 33 carries in Carolina's final four games.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones made his stance on Javonte Williams crystal clear after announcing that the team wants to bring back Williams on a "multiple-year deal." The Joneses may already have a plan in place, but Dowdle is an obvious fallback option if it doesn’t work out.
Williams didn't have the same juice late in the season compared to the beginning. Having a two-in-one running back like Dowdle would help tremendously, regardless of whether the Cowboys keep Williams or not. The best-case scenario would be having both RBs to give Williams some rest so he's not overworked.
Dowdle was at the top of his game in his last season with Dallas, and that production continued in the early stages of his Panthers tenure. Not to mention, Dowdle sent a message to Jones by torching his former team for 239 scrimmage yards, a single-game franchise record, in Week 6.
With Brian Schottenheimer now at the helm, Dowdle won't be misused as he was under McCarthy in 2024. Dowdle getting carries with the Cowboys' offensive line could elevate his game even further, perhaps toward Pro Bowl territory.
Cowboys fans wouldn't mind seeing Dowdle back. He's in the prime of his career now and doesn't have a lot of tread on his tires.
Jones has contract decisions to make with Williams, George Pickens, and Kenny Clark, among others, but he's well-positioned to take advantage of Dowdle's frustrations with Carolina. Whether it's Dowdle by himself or Williams and Dowdle leading a committee, a Dowdle reunion has to be a possible contingency plan in case Williams signs elsewhere.