Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has made a stunning decision at running back ahead of Sunday’s opener in Cleveland against the Browns.
The Cowboys signed four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook last week, adding him to a RB room of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and sophomore Deuce Vaughn. On Wednesday, Mike McCarthy revealed who will start 2024 as the No. 1 running back.
Per Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. of alldlls.com, McCarthy confirmed that Elliott is the No. 1 running back on their depth chart. Presumably, this means Elliott will start at running back in Cleveland.
Elliott returns to Dallas after a one-year stop with the New England Patriots. “Zeke” was cut by the Cowboys in a cap-saving move last year, and he accepted a one-year deal from the Pats to back up Rhamondre Stevenson.
Though Elliott has been past his prime for a while now (he has finished below 1,000 yards rushing in three of the last four years), Mike McCarthy clearly saw enough in the offseason to give him another shot at the RB1 job.
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Last season, Dowdle rushed for 361 yards and one touchdown. Cook, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher with the Minnesota Vikings, had 214 rushing yards and no touchdowns with the New York Jets before his release. He was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens last in the year and appeared in one postseason game.
A Surprise RB Decision By Mike McCarthy
Elliott may have the most familiarity in Dallas’ offense, but he also has plenty of mileage on his body. The two-time rushing champion has averaged less than four yards per carry in each of the last two years, so it’s certainly interesting that McCarthy is giving him the starting nod over the younger and fresher Dowdle.
Then again, Elliott will definitely be on a short leash. If he’s not producing early and often, McCarthy will give Dowdle and Cook additional carries.
