The Green Bay Packers’ narrow 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 wasn’t just a game story. It reignited a simmering tension around running back Rico Dowdle and his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. Micah Parsons, the star linebacker now tormenting offenses for the Packers, didn’t hold back after experiencing his ex-teammate’s superior run game first-hand in Week 9.

“Dallas didn’t know how to use him,” the player reportedly said as per Pam Oliver. “Carolina does.”

Notably, Dowdle was unstoppable against the Packers: 25 carries, 130 yards, and two rushing touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 11 yards. His second TD, a one-yard plunge in the third quarter, was a game-winning setup. While the Packers managed to even the score later, a field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald at the very last second of the fourth quarter ultimately took it away from them.

This kind of workload hadn’t been seen from Dowdle since his Week 6 dominance against the Cowboys. But overall, with just nine games in, he’s already posted 735 rushing yards and four touchdowns, with an additional receiving score. In fact, the player’s already close to a 1,000-yard campaign, something the Cowboys probably didn’t expect from him. At least not consistently. But that’s just one of Dallas’ regrets regarding Dowdle at this point. Here’s the real kicker:

Dowdle was with the Dallas Cowboys for five years since he signed up in the 2020 season. Year after year, he found himself in backup roles, waiting for the proper spotlight to showcase his skills. While that opportunity finally arrived last season, where he rushed for 1,079 yards and brought in 5 total touchdowns (2 rushing, 3 receiving) while starting 15 of 16 games, Dallas still let him go. They gambled on Javonte Williams instead, leaving Dowdle to test free agency. With this season heating up, the Cowboys seem to be looking back at that move with a tinge of sorrow.

The Cowboys’ woes around Rico Dowdle

After the Panthers’ 27-24 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, Rico Dowdle had fired a warning at his old team. “They got to buckle up.”

So, Cowboys’ Executive Vice President Stephen Jones knew exactly what his team was up against in Week 6. When facing questions around the same, he didn’t shy away.

“We were huge fans of [Rico Dowdle]. But we made a conscious decision to go for Javonte [Williams], even though we had a lot of love for Rico. … My hat’s off to Rico. What a hell of a game he had. He’ll be a handful for us.”

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And sure enough, Dowdle followed through on his warning.

Against the Cowboys in Week 6, he rushed for 183 yards and even hauled in a receiving touchdown in the 30-27 win. Carolina’s coaching staff had finally unlocked what Dallas couldn’t for years.

With Chuba Hubbard sidelined, Dowdle got the bulk of the carries. His output in Week 5 even had Panthers’ head coach Dave Canales showering praises for the on-field presence.

“It’s the attitude he ran with, the violence that he ran with, finishing through arm tackles. Something that we’ve been challenging our guys on. I saw a great finish today out of Rico.”

This drive even came through visibly against the Packers in Week 9, causing Micah Parsons to note that Dallas may have underutilized him. While Dowdle’s ground game tormented the Packers’ defense, Parsons was only able to log 3 tackles and no sacks. For the Packers and the Cowboys, Dowdle’s 2025 success has become a lingering what-if. For the Panthers, it’s their key weapon.

As the season rolls on, eyes will be on all three teams. Dowdle’s continued dominance, Dallas’ own struggles, and whether Parsons and Green Bay can respond to their Week 9 upset and come back stronger. The coming weeks promise plenty of answers in that regard.