The Dallas Cowboys clinched an important 34-26 win against the Washington Commanders in Week 12, with running back Rico Dowdle playing a pivotal role. As the team aimed for steadiness in their ground attack, Dowdle’s performance in both rushing and receiving was remarkable, echoing his standout display in Week 5 against the Steelers.
Considering the Monday injury report in this short week, the Cowboys’ running game could prove crucial on Thursday when they host the Giants. Rico Dowdle’s recent performance against Washington showcased his value, as he logged 19 carries for 86 rushing yards and contributed three receptions for 12 yards, providing consistent support to Dallas’ offense.
Rico Dowdle delivered a standout performance against the Steelers earlier in the season, recording 20 carries for 87 rushing yards and adding 2 receptions for 27 yards—his highest workload of the year compared to a max of 12 touches in other games. His chain-moving ability was crucial in the Cowboys’ win over the Commanders, especially in critical late-game situations. This allowed quarterback Cooper Rush to shine, throwing two touchdown passes while completing 24 of 32 attempts for 247 yards.
Rush effectively spread the ball to his playmakers, including tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who caught a 22-yard touchdown. Despite inefficiencies on third down (2-for-11), the Cowboys’ offense amassed 332 total yards, including 241 through the air, demonstrating resilience in a hard-fought victory.
And speaking of Cooper Rush, the Monday injury report revealed that the 4-7 Cowboys are dealing with a banged-up starting quarterback. Rush is listed as “limited” in practice due to a knee issue. On a positive note, key players Tyler Smith and Trevon Diggs returned to practice after missing Sunday’s game. However, Zack Martin and Jake Ferguson were among those unable to participate, adding to the team’s injury concerns heading into Thursday’s matchup.
Coach Mike McCarthy spoke about Cooper Rush, who is filling in for the injured Dak Prescott, out for the season, saying, “He’s got some work to do, but I think we’re going to be fine.”
