The Dallas Cowboys were quiet during the free agency frenzy, mostly because the team had been dealing with far less cap room than their NFL counterparts. Owner Jerry Jones also described the team as being talented enough to make the playoffs with the current roster in place.
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Jones isn’t wrong, as the Cowboys do have playmakers on both sides of the ball. However, heading into 2024, the running back room was severely lacking.
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Thankfully, Jones decided to bring back Cowboys legend Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott may have had some down years, but his return has been celebrated by many. Elliot joins a committee running back room that includes Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and Deuce Vaughn.
The hope is that the room can join together to produce a successful rushing attack. However, the room may have already suffered its first setback.
Longtime Cowboys beat writer Jon Machota revealed that Freeman had to exit practice after suffering an injury. Freeman initially walked to the injury tent to get checked out and headed to the locker room directly after.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer Clarence Hill Jr. indicated that Freeman’s injury is related to his groin.
Cowboys RB Royce Freeman left practice with a groin
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) August 5, 2024
Head coach Mike McCarthy is likely to update Freeman’s status, but groin injuries are never easy. Players can often be held out of action for weeks depending on if the groin injust is a sprain, and months if its a tear.
Freeman will have to go through the necessary tests to determine if the injury is significant, but the hope is that he will be ready to go when the season begins.
Freeman is currently listed as the third back on the Cowboys’ depth chart, but he is still a proven veteran who can help the committee establish a solid run game.
Elliott is the natural selection to be RB1, but his recent carry averages are something to worry about. The 2023 season saw Elliott secure 642 yards and three touchdowns, however, his 3.5 yards per carry was the worst of his career.
Elliott was on a Patriots team that was not an offensive juggernaut, so being back with the Cowboys could increase his production in 2024. Still, Elliott will need to spend time rotating out with the other veterans on the Cowboys roster.
Freeman offers a ton of veteran leadership and should do well splitting carries with Dowdle and Elliott, but now the team will have to see if they will be without Freeman for the coming weeks.