3 nightmare scenarios for the Cowboys in 2023

1. An injury to Tony Pollard

Moving on from Ezekiel Elliott was the right call for the Cowboys. He was one of the most dominant running backs in the entire NFL early in his career but it was clear that he wasn't the same player over the past two seasons. In 2022 especially, Tony Pollard was not only the more explosive back, he was simply better.

Pollard, who was hit with the franchise tag this offseason, is coming off his best campaign as a pro. He ran for 1,007 yards with nine touchdowns and added 371 yards and three more touchdowns as a receiver. He even made his first Pro Bowl for his efforts.

Unfortunately, he's also coming off a broken leg and high ankle sprain which he suffered in their postseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He seems to be just fine following surgery but it's a harsh reminder that their depth isn't what it used to be.

During Elliott's best days, Pollard was there to take over if needed. He's averaged more than five yards per carry for his career and oftentimes, the offense looked even better when he received the bulk of the carries.

This year, they have Malik Davis, Ronald Jones, Rico Dowdle, and rookies Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke behind Pollard. There's talent, for sure, but not a lot of experience. Having said that, Jones has the most experience but he might not even make the team.

Should Pollard stay healthy this won't be an issue at all. They have different skill sets on the bench and can attack offenses in a myriad of ways. But if Pollard goes down, a position that's been a strength for years would suddenly be a major question mark.

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