3 important takeaways from Cowboys backfield usage in season opener

1. Deuce Vaughn is the clear RB3

The Cowboys selected running back Deuce Vaughn in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and everyone loved the pick. He’s an explosive who is extremely hard to tackle in open space and after the catch. 

Dallas also certainly saw that firsthand in the preseason. Vaughn had 13 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games. The rookie also added four catches for five yards through the air. 

But to little surprise, Vaughn’s chances will be limited to start the year. The small running back saw just eight snaps in his NFL debut, running six times for eight yards. Most of the rookie’s snaps also came in the final two drives of the contest. It's pretty clear Rico Dowdle is viewed as the RB2 behind Tony Pollard.

It was expected that Vaughn wouldn’t have a major role right out of the gate; most rookies don’t. However, there could be opportunities for the Cowboys to use his speed as the year goes on. 

Vaughn put up over 1,850 yards from scrimmage in back-to-back college seasons at Kansas State. The talent is there, and Dallas knows that. Hopefully, the team will design more plays for him in the coming weeks because who doesn’t want to see the rookie get more touches and score his first NFL touchdown? 

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