Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer responds to Rico Dowdle's 'buckle up' comment

Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer responds to Rico Dowdle's 'buckle up' comment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Cowboys are preparing to take on the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. 

Both the Cowboys and Panthers will enter this matchup coming off wins. The Cowboys dominated the New York Jets and won by a score of 37-22. The Panthers, meanwhile, overcame a 17-0 deficit to take down the Miami Dolphins by a score of 27-24. 

One of the main reasons the Panthers were able to get the win was the play of running back Rico Dowdle, who had a career game after rushing 23 times for 206 yards and one touchdown. Dowdle also caught three passes for 28 yards on the day. 

The running back was filling in for Chuba Hubbard, but it seems like the free-agent addition may have secured a larger role going forward.

Dowdle is in his first season with the Panthers after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Cowboys. Ahead of the upcoming matchup against his former team, Dowdle warned the Cowboys to "buckle up." 

"They got to buckle up," Dowdle said of the Cowboys after the Panthers' win, via ESPN. "I think they know for sure. They didn't keep me there for five years for no reason."

Naturally, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about Dowdle's comment and offered his own thoughts. 

“It’ll be good to see Rico this weekend,” Brian Schottenheimer said. “I know we’re going to have to buckle up, he said. So we’ll bring our seat belts, Rico. Buckle up.”

Schottenheimer and Dowdle were with the Cowboys together for three seasons, so the coach definitely knows the running back. Dowdle had plenty of good games as a Cowboy, so there's no chance the team overlooks him this weekend. 

The Cowboys have not been great against the run this season, though. Currently, the team ranks 23rd in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. In Week 5, the Cowboys allowed Breece Hall to rush for 113 yards. 

In 2024, Dowdle rushed for 1,079 yards and two scores for the Cowboys. As a result of his solid season, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Panthers that could potentially be worth up to $6.25 million. 

So far, Dowdle has rushed 51 times for 289 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. The Panthers' offense has struggled as a whole this season, but they're 10th in the league in rushing yards per game. 

The Cowboys and Panthers will kick off from Charlotte on Sunday, and one of the two teams will walk away with its third win of the season.

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