The Cowboys began the season with a running back by committee. That plan was scrapped the past two weeks.
On Thursday, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Rico Dowdle now is the team’s bell cow.
“He’s the lead back,” McCarthy said, via Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. “I thought he had a really good first half [against the Eagles on Sunday], and I think that’s really illustrated by the attempts. Rico needs to touch the ball.”
Dowdle has led the Cowboys in carries six of the eight games he has played this season. In the past two games, Dowdle has 24 carries. Ezekiel Elliott is second with six, even without playing in the Cowboys’ loss to the Falcons.
Dowdle played 71 percent of the snaps against the Falcons and 52 percent Sunday against the Eagles.
“If you’ve paid attention to the games the last couple of weeks,” Dowdle said, “we’ve been kind of trending in that direction.”
For the season, Dowdle has 83 carries for 374 yards and no touchdowns.
“You have to get him the ball,” McCarthy said. “That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities.”
