Dallas running back Rico Dowdle tops 1,000 yards. Will Cowboys keep him in 2025?

Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle became the first undrafted running back in franchise history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards during its 41-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Despite his 23 carries for 104 yards and a fumble, one of four Cowboys turnovers on the day, Dowdle was disappointed with the loss.

“We definitely didn’t think this would be the outcome,” Dowdle said. “Definitely thought we had enough to go out there and win this game and still do. But you know, you can’t win games when you’re four to zero in turnovers and that hurt us a lot, including myself. I think we ran the ball pretty well, and they blocked real well up front today.”

Offensive lineman Tyler Smith praised Dowdle for doing something no other Cowboys player had ever done before.

“I mean, that’s a testament, not only to his work ethic but the entire blocking unit,” said Smith. “So, I mean, just a phenomenal job by him, the way he runs physical, hard, his vision, all those things. So congrats to him. I think we’ll see more of that in his future, for sure.”

Dowdle broke the 1,000-yard mark with a 17-yard rush in the fourth quarter to earn his fourth 100-yard rushing performance in his last five games.

With one game remaining in the season, Dowdle has 1,007 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown almost tripling his previous career high of 361 yards set last season.

Despite the loss, the running back said he was happy to accomplish a goal he had set for himself before the season.

“Definitely feels good, definitely a landmark I wanted to hit, like I said, not the outcome, wish it was a different outcome,” said Dowdle.

Dowdle became the 22nd player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards after not being selected in the draft.

Dowdle wasn’t the only running back to make history in the game, Saquon Barkley made history for the Eagles as the ninth running back to run for 2,000 or more yards with his 167-yard performance.

Dowdle said Barley was leading the way for running backs in the league.

“He’s setting the standard right now and doing what he’s supposed to do, and he’s had a great season, but like you said, hit that 2000 mark, think he’s probably right around like 60 something away from the record. So hope he can go do that, and that helps everybody out in the running back world. So definitely a lot of appreciation for what he’s doing,” said Dowdle.

Dowdle will be an unrestricted free agent following the season and the team seems unlikely for the Cowboys to place a franchise tag on him because of the salary the tag would command.

For reference, franchise tagging running backs in 2023 cost $10,091,000.

Pundits have predicted the Cowboys would draft a running back like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty but with Dowdle’s late-season surge, the running back could be in line for a long-term contract following the season.

If the team decides to move on there are multiple veteran running backs such as Aaron Jones, Nick Chubb and Najee Harris who are slated to be unrestricted free agents following the season.

The South Carolina product signed with the team following the 2020 NFL draft and has spent his entire career with the Cowboys.