FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys are planning to address their running back need with a familiar name from the NFC East.
With Rico Dowdle sidelined for the season by a hip injury, the team is expected to sign veteran running back Corey Clement, who was originally drafted by Philadelphia and spent training camp this year with the New York Giants. The four-year vet is expected to fill the spot left open by Dowdle, behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard on the depth chart.
Clement hasn't officially signed, as the Cowboys' roster is currently full. But with several players expected to be moved to injured reserve in short order, he should be able to finalize the deal and start practicing as early as Thursday.
As previously mentioned, Clement's name should sound familiar to Cowboy fans. He originally signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and set about creating a role for himself on Philadelphia's championship team. He most notably caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles' Super Bowl LII win against New England.
Clement finished his time in Philadelphia with 655 career rushing yards and 37 receptions for 340 yards. In three preseason games with the Giants this year, he ran the rock 18 times for 86 yards.
All told, Clement's career history perfectly fits what the Cowboys were looking for in Dowdle's replacement. He's got proven ability as a runner and receiver, but more important is his special teams history. Across four seasons in Philadelphia, he played 742 special teams snaps. He also worked spot duty as a return man, fielding seven punts and 19 kicks during that time span.
