{"id":32182,"date":"2025-03-11T02:03:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T02:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=32182"},"modified":"2025-03-11T02:03:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T02:03:27","slug":"breaking-cowboys-make-decision-on-1000-yard-rb-after-javonte-williams-departure%f0%9f%94%a5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=32182","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Cowboys make decision on 1,000-yard RB after Javonte Williams&#8217; departure\ud83d\udd25.."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0are set to undergo some major changes to the offense in the 2025 season.<\/p>\n<p>With head coach\u00a0Mike McCarthy\u00a0on his way out, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will take over, and Klayton Adams will take over his old role. Not only that, but All-Pro guard Zack Martin has retired from the\u00a0NFL, leaving the Cowboys with a big hole in the interior.<\/p>\n<p>The Cowboys have\u00a0re-signed\u00a0numerous players over the past few days, including defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. On Monday, Jerry Jones and company revealed their first free agent signing of 2025, getting former\u00a0Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams on a one-year deal, per NFL Network&#8217;s Tom Pelissero.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Former Broncos RB Javonte Williams is signing a one-year, $3 million deal with the #Cowboys, per sources. Max $3.5M with incentives,&#8221; Pelissero\u00a0wrote on X.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-item-inline\">\n<figure class=\"l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline\"><picture class=\"is-loaded\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.webp 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.webp 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.webp 700w\" type=\"image\/webp\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_380\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.jpg 380w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.jpg 620w, https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1240px) 700px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"m-detail--tml-image m-image\" src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.jpg\" srcset=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" alt=\"Former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams\" width=\"3710\" height=\"2474\" data-src=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700\/MjEzMzk3MzYwODI1MzQ1NDg3\/usatsi_22078367.jpg\" \/><\/picture><figcaption>\n<p class=\"tml-image--caption\">Former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams<\/p>\n<p class=\"tml-image--attribution\">Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Williams has been a solid option at running back for the Broncos over the past four seasons, totaling nearly 2,400 rushing yards on 4.0 yards per attempt. The Cowboys had a solid option at running back in 2024 as well in Rico Dowdle.<\/p>\n<p>Dowdle earned the full-time starting running back job in 2024 after three seasons as the backup. He was able to eclipse 1000 yards on the season after tallying 100+ rushing yards in four of five games down the stretch.<\/p>\n<p>However, with Dowdle a free agent and the Cowboys signing Williams, it appears the former South Carolina star won&#8217;t be returning to Dallas, per\u00a0Dallas Morning News&#8217; David Moore.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Landing RB Javonte Williams in free agency means that Rico Dowdle won\u2019t return, a person w\/ knowledge of the club\u2019s thinking said,&#8221; Moore wrote on X. &#8220;Williams is regarded as a comparable talent to Dowdle &amp; more cost effective. Dallas is committed to selecting a RB in next month\u2019s draft.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-detail--body-item m-detail--body-twitter-embed\">\n<figure class=\"m-embed mm-embed--twitter l-inline\">\n<div class=\"rna-container rh-ineligible\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DavidMooreDMN\/status\/1899247966503731677\" data-rhp=\"1\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1899247966503731677&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fathlonsports.com%2Fnfl%2Fdallas-cowboys%2Fcowboys-make-decision-1000-yard-rb-after-javonte-williams-move&amp;sessionId=a9ef7b262c1caa015eb61632895cf0c17cc32f51&amp;siteScreenName=athlonsports&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1899247966503731677\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>One of the Cowboys&#8217; biggest weaknesses from the past season was their running game, averaging only 100.3 yards per game (27th in the NFL). The addition of Williams may not be enough for Dallas, with Ezekiel Elliott on the way out too.<\/p>\n<p>But the Cowboys have been projected to look at a running back in the 2025\u00a0NFL Draft, with some\u00a0mentioning\u00a0Boise State&#8217;s Ashton Jeanty at No. 12.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0are set to undergo some major changes to the offense in the 2025 season. With head coach\u00a0Mike McCarthy\u00a0on his way out, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>BREAKING: Cowboys make decision on 1,000-yard RB after Javonte Williams&#039; departure\ud83d\udd25.. - 24\/7 News America<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=32182\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Cowboys make decision on 1,000-yard RB after Javonte Williams&#039; departure\ud83d\udd25.. - 24\/7 News America\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0are set to undergo some major changes to the offense in the 2025 season. 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