Since the schedule was released in late May, it’s easy to assume that former Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle had this week circled on his calendar.
After spending five seasons with the Cowboys and having a career year in 2024, the Dallas front office decided to let him walk in free agency where he signed with his hometown Carolina Panthers. Instead, the Cowboys pivoted to Javonte Williams.
Fresh off winning the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his 206-yard performance in a win over the Miami Dolphins, Dowdle said in the locker room after the game that his former team better “buckle up” ahead of his revenge game opportunity when the Cowboys and Panthers play Sunday.
When asked more about it Wednesday, Dowdle doubled down.
“They got to buckle up,” Dowdle said. “I stand on that. It just means it’s going to be a very physical game on my end, I take pride in that. Buckle them chinstraps up tight. I will be coming.”
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer saw Dowdle’s comments and brought them up unprompted in his Monday press conference.
“I know we’re going to have to buckle up, he said,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ll bring our seat belts, Rico, and buckle up.”
Players in the locker room also saw Dowdle’s comments, and even though a handful of them didn’t even play with the former Cowboys running back before he departed this past offseason, it’s something that will be on their minds when they travel into Charlotte.
“Man, he got to back it up,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “I’m not much into talking. They ain’t play nobody like us. We ain’t play them, so he’ll watch the film and see what he’s playing against.”
“We ain’t going,” defensive end Sam Williams said. “We’re buckled up. Car seat, all of that. We’re ready.”
“He can say what he wants,” defensive tackle Solomon Thomas said. “He had a great game last week. But we play the game Sunday.”
Dowdle is expected to start in place of the injured Chuba Hubbard for the second week in a row after his breakout performance in Week 5. Aside from his 206 yards against the Dolphins, Dowdle rushed for just 83 yards in the previous four games in a rotational role.
In his final season in Dallas in 2024, Dowdle rushed for 1,079 yards while adding 249 yards in the receiving game. Instead of re-signing him, the Cowboys let him walk to free agency.
“I definitely want to go out there and have a good game against them,” Dowdle said. “They did let me live out my dream for my five years there, so no hard feelings for why I didn’t return there. It’s the nature of the business. There was no offer made. I’m definitely looking forward to proving it to them on Sunday.”