Rico Dowdle is eagerly waiting for Week 6. The former Cowboys RB will face his old team for the first time since leaving in 2024. And he’s not exactly keeping things quiet. Fresh off an NFC Offensive Player of the Week nod for torching the Dolphins with 206 total yards, Dowdle sent a loud message to Dallas. He told reporters his former team better “buckle up” for what’s coming. But George Pickens didn’t let that one slide.

“Nah, we’re buckled up every week, bro. I don’t really know what he meant by that. I just know we gonna try to come out there to dominate and compete,” Pickens said on Dowdle’s comments. The wideout wasn’t taking shots—just setting the tone. However, Dowdle’s got his reasons to feel fired up.

After five seasons in Dallas and a breakout year in 2024, the front office still let him walk. Carolina wasted no time bringing the hometown kid home, while the Cowboys turned their backfield over to Javonte Williams. It was a business move—but one that still stings for the running back. And he’s not pretending otherwise.

In his final season with Dallas, Dowdle racked up 1,079 rushing yards and added another 249 through the air. Those are numbers you don’t just replace overnight. So when he was asked again on Wednesday about his “buckle up” message, he stood firm.

“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.”

Now, Rico Dowdle is expected to start again with Chuba Hubbard sidelined. His Week 5 explosion already turned heads after a quiet month of limited carries. Still, it’s not just George Pickens; other Cowboys members had their say, too.

George Pickens and the Cowboys are ready for Rico Dowdle

While Rico Dowdle’s “buckle up” message made waves across the league, the Cowboys made sure it didn’t go unanswered. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn’t dodge the topic either. “I know we’re going to have to buckle up, he said,” Schottenheimer told reporters on Monday. “We’ll bring our seat belts, Rico, and buckle up.” That light jab got some laughs, but make no mistake—the locker room heard Dowdle loud and clear.

Defensive tackle Kenny Clark didn’t hold back. “Man, he got to back it up,” 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.” Meanwhile, Sam Williams added, “We ain’t going. We’re buckled up. Car seat, all of that. We’re ready.” Even Solomon Thomas added his take. “He can say what he wants. He had a great game last week. But we play the game Sunday.”

And yes, George Pickens is leading by example too. After scoring five touchdowns in 16 starts for Pittsburgh in 2023, he’s already matched that total through just five games in Big D. Dak Prescott’s trust in him and Schottenheimer’s system have unlocked a new version of the Georgia product.

On pace for 1,219 yards and 17 touchdowns, he’s proving to be a perfect fit. Sure, his numbers might dip a bit when CeeDee Lamb returns, but for now, Pickens and Cowboy Nation are locked in. Let’s see how they strap up against Dowdle and the Panthers this Sunday.