Jerry & McCarthy Disagree on Cowboys RB Plan? Zeke, 'Tea Leaves' & Suspension

The Dallas Cowboys are in search of a new RB2 following the recent Ronald Jones suspension and Rico Dowdle is hungry for the position... while Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy need to get their Zeke story straight.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ronald Jones was hit with a two-game suspension on Tuesday for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, and the team now has to find a suitable replacement to back up Tony Pollard while Jones is forced to sit out.

Team owner Jerry Jones teased on Tuesday that re-signing Ezekiel Elliott is an option. Coach Mike McCarthy is at the same time essentially contradicting the boss.

“We're reading the tea leaves,” Jones said on Tuesday. "He's not ruled out at all.”

"Because of the reps," McCarthy said on the Elliott situation. "We're just not gonna hit a bump [Ronald Jones] and then give up on the path. We want to see these young guys. I want to see them play in games."

The young guys McCarthy is referring to are Malik Davis, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, and Jones. The Cowboys started wearing pads at training camp on Monday and McCarthy praised both Dowdle and Davis for their work ethic in training camp.

"I'll tell you, I'm loving Rico Dowdle, and it's great to have him back," McCarthy said this week. "Malik Davis has taken that jump that we're looking for. Those two guys have really jumped out. Obviously, we’ve got to get Deuce Vaughn involved, [too]."

Dowdle heard the praise McCarthy dished out, and while he is grateful for the good words, he knows there is still plenty of work to do.

"Just want to stay on the right track and stay on that good side of him," Dowdle said. "Keep doing what the coaches like me doing. Hard work and just try to win a spot. But obviously, that's nice hearing that from Coach McCarthy."

With the RB2 spot currently up for grabs, Dowdle is ready to compete and take full advantage of the opportunity that he has been given. 

"All of us come out here and compete," Dowdle said. "With good competition, I think it's only gonna make us all better... My goal is to obviously go out there and win it. I want to be the number-two guy. It's the biggest opportunity I've had here since I've been here, so just come out here and work everyday."

Dowdle signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft but has had a rough going since entering the league. The former South Carolina Gamecock dealt with a hip injury in 2021 and an ankle injury during the 2022 season, but is fully healthy in 2023 and ready to contribute.

"Right now, I'm just playing a lot faster than last year at this time at the beginning of training camp," Dowdle said. "Just out there playing fast and staying on top of everything. Making sure I'm coming out here and I'm fresh. Taking care of my body after the practices and making sure I'm staying healthy."

Dowdle knows that in this industry it is crucial to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way because you never know who might come along and take your job.

"It's the NFL and everyone is here for a reason," said Dowdle, who since 2020 has recorded seven carries for 24 rushing yards in 20 games. "You have to earn it and compete for it every year."

Letting the young guys do exactly that is the Cowboys' plan. And it always has been - Jerry's "tea leaves'' aside.

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You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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