Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Leads team in rushing Friday
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Vaughn carried the ball 10 times for 42 yards and added 22 yards on one kickoff return in Friday's 31-13 preseason win over the Falcons.
The 2023 sixth-round pick got the start for Dallas and gained most of his yardage on the team's opening drive, as he helped set up a one-yard TD run for Joe Milton. Miles Sanders (shoulder) was held out of the contest and Jaydon Blue left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, so Vaughn's solid performance may prove to be timely as he tries to win a spot in the backfield behind presumed Week 1 starter Javonte Williams.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Follows Sanders in preseason loss
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Vaughn rushed the ball five times for 11 yards in Saturday's 31-13 preseason loss to the Ravens. He added one reception on one target for seven yards.
Vaughn had risen up the depth chart in Dallas with Jaydon Blue (heel) and Miles Sanders both sidelined. However, Sanders returned to practice this week and started Saturday's contest ahead of Vaughn. Depending on the severity of Blue's injury, Vaughn could enter the regular season third on the depth chart, but regular touches in the offense don't appear likely barring additional injuries.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Getting first-team reps
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Vaughn worked with the first-team offense during practice Tuesday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The undersized back showed his usual elusiveness, but Vaughn heads into his third NFL season having yet to make much of an impact with his rare touches in game action. He's getting opportunities with the first team while rookie Jaydon Blue (heel) is sidelined, but Vaughn faces an uphill battle to even have a spot on the 53-man roster with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders also ahead of him on the depth chart, and 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah looking good in camp as well.
Vaughn (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Vaughn's return to practice should pave the way for him to suit up in Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams. He's vying for a depth role in a Dallas backfield that also includes Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders (knee), Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Vaughn is the only member of that group that was with the Cowboys last season.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Season-high six carries in Week 18
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Vaughn carried the ball six times for 37 yards in Sunday's 23-19 loss to the Commanders.
In a meaningless game for the Cowboys, Vaughn saw a season-high workload and delivered a career high in rushing yards. The 2023 sixth-round pick appeared in only seven games this season and managed just 88 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches, once again serving as a depth option in the backfield. Rico Dowdle will be a free agent this offseason and may have priced himself out of Dallas' plans with a strong campaign, but it's highly unlikely Vaughn will head into 2025 at the top of the depth chart.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Healthy scratch Sunday
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Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
The 2023 sixth-round pick finds himself as the third man on the depth chart behind Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott. Vaughn has not played in a game since Week 11 against Houston. He has 11 carries for 33 yards and no touchdowns this season.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Not playing Week 12
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Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Vaughn will be a healthy scratch for the second time in the past three weeks, leaving Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott to handle the work in Dallas' backfield along with fullback Hunter Luepke. Vaughn has been inefficient as a ball carrier in his limited opportunities this season, gaining just 33 yards on 11 carries while adding 18 yards on three receptions.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Inactive for Week 10
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Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against Philadelphia.
Vaughn played three snaps on special teams in Week 9 against the Falcons. With Vaughn a healthy scratch Sunday, Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott will be the Cowboys' two options out of the backfield.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Won't play Week 5
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Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Vaughn has seen minimal work over the first four games of the regular season. He will be a healthy inactive Sunday as the Cowboys go with Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott as their only two active running backs.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Shut out of game plan Thursday
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Vaughn didn't see a touch and got only three snaps on offense in Thursday's win over the Giants.
The 2023 sixth-round pick continues to be a distant third in the Dallas backfield hierarchy behind Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, and Vaughn failed to touch the ball in Week 4 for the first time all season. With Dalvin Cook stashed on the practice squad and the Cowboys getting little production from their running game, Vaughn's hold on a 53-man roster spot appears tenuous at best.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Looks good against Bolts
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Vaughn carried the ball nine times for 53 yards and failed to catch two targets in Saturday's 26-19 preseason loss to the Chargers. He added 23 yards on one kickoff return.
Vaughn mixed into the backfield on the Cowboys' first drive of the day, and the Kansas State product showed off his ability to produce chunk plays with an 18-yard scamper in the second quarter that set up Dallas' first touchdown of the day. Vaughn is fighting for a spot on the season-opening roster behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle in the backfield, and the fact that he got carries before Royce Freeman and out-produced the veteran can be taken as a positive sign for his chances.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Strong showing Saturday
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Vaughn carried the ball five times for 34 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders. He also returned one kickoff for 25 yards.
The undersized back looked good in his first exhibition action after missing the Cowboys' preseason opener due to a hamstring injury. Vaughn led all Dallas backs in rushing yards and showed some surprising power through contact in addition to his usual elusiveness. The 2023 sixth-round pick is fighting for a depth spot behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle in the backfield, and his ability to contribute on special teams could help him secure a spot on the game-day roster.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Back at practice
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Vaughn (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Vaughn, who last practiced July 31, worked with all three of the Cowboys' offensive units in his return to practice. Now that the 2023 sixth-round draft pick is back in the mix, he'll look to carve out a change-of-pace role in a Dallas backfield that also includes Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman and Malik Davis.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Sidelined by hamstring injury
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Vaughn missed the past couple practices with a hamstring injury, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Vaughn's absence during the second week of training camp may impact his chances of earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Early reports suggest Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Royce Freeman are all ahead of Vaughn, a 2023 sixth-round pick who barely played as a rookie.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Could take slot snaps?
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Vaughn (ankle) is a candidate to earn more work out of the slot this offseason, Reid Hanson of USA Today reports.
Vaughn only suited up for seven games as a rookie before landing on IR, across which he totaled just 80 yards from scrimmage without a touchdown. Now presumably healthy, the 5-foot-6 running back could have a clearer path to backfield opportunities with Tony Pollard having moved on to Tennessee, even with Ezekiel Elliott now back atop the depth chart. The slot could be a more natural fit for Vaughn, though to emerge as an actual fantasy contributor in Year 2, he'll need to earn more than the occasional designed play.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Won't play Sunday
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Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive Thursday against the Commanders, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Vaughn will take a seat again in Week 12, as Rico Dowdle (ankle) will play against Washington. The former's next chance to play will be Week 13 against the Seahawks.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Workload could increase
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Vaughn carried the ball eight times for nine yards and caught his only target for two yards in Sunday's rout of the Patriots.
While he didn't do much with the volume, this was still the most touches Vaughn has seen in an NFL game to date. The rookie's increased workload came as a result of an injury to Rico Dowdle (hip), so Vaughn could continue seeing a bigger role in the Dallas backfield behind starter Tony Pollard in Week 5 against the 49ers.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Flashes in Week 2 win
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Vaughn carried the ball three times for 16 yards and caught all three of his targets for 16 yards in Sunday's win over the Jets.
With the Cowboys routing another opponent, the depth options in the backfield behind Tony Pollard saw significant volume -- Vaughn's six touches were topped by Rico Dowdle's seven, and KaVontae Turpin handled three touches as well. After a disappointing NFL debut in Week 1, this time around Vaughn showed glimpses of the explosiveness that made him a preseason darling, with his longest gain going for 13 yards. Should anything happen to Pollard, Vaughn will be a priority target on fantasy waiver wires, even if his diminutive stature makes him unlikely to take on a true starter's workload.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: Week 1 Waiver Priority List
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The Cowboys made the decision not to bring in a prominent running back to play behind Tony Pollard, which leaves Vaughn and Rico Dowdle (4 percent rostered) as the top backups. While Dowdell is probably the top backup to Pollard right now, I'm more intrigued by Vaughn since he could play in tandem with Pollard during the season. We all know he's a smaller running back at 5-foot-6, 176 pounds, but he could be a surprise playmaker in an explosive offense. I have no problem stashing him on my bench with a late-round pick, and he's worth up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn: On initial 53-man roster
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Vaughn was included on the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster following roster cuts Tuesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Behind Tony Pollard, Dallas' situation at running back has cleared up somewhat, with Vaughn and Rico Dowdle, plus fullback Hunter Luepke, making the team over Malik Davis. With Ronald Jones suspended for the first two games of the season, Vaughn -- a 2023 sixth-round pick -- will be among the options to spell Pollard in the early going. In two preseason games, the pint-sized Vaughn became a highlight-reel favorite and notched 13 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns, while gathering in all four of his targets for five yards.
