The Dallas Cowboys are entering Week 8 with the lowest average in the league for yards per carry at 3.5 yards per rush. The Cowboys' struggles running the ball prompted ESPN broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to take a shot Monday night at owner Jerry Jones for passing on Derrick Henry in the offseason.
Jerry suggested during his appearance on 105.3 The Fan Tuesday that Henry might not perform as well this season in Dallas as he is with the Baltimore Ravens because the Cowboys run a different offense.
Rico Dowdle leads the Cowboys in rushing with 246 yards on 59 carries. Ezekiel Elliott has 115 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries.
On Friday, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones hinted that Dalvin Cook could make his way from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Mike McCarthy added that Cook is ready to go for the Sunday night game.
The 3-3 Cowboys are aware that their running game is an issue, and they'll try to use a four-time Pro Bowl running back to give a boost to the backfield in Week 8. However, the team should look at outside help if they hope to improve their ground game and make a run in the postseason.
Chris Licata with AS wrote about 10 trades that should happen before the Nov. 5 deadline. Licata suggested the Cowboys could trade with the Carolina Panthers for Chuba Hubbard.
The 1-6 Panthers need to be aggressive in trading away pieces for draft capital before the Nov. 5 deadline, as they have virtually no chance of making the postseason. Hubbard is in the final year of his rookie contract, valued at almost $4.2 million.
The Panthers are set to eventually make second-round pick Jonathon Brooks their RB1. Brooks is working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered at Texas in 2023. When the rookie joins the Panthers, Hubbard would likely see fewer carries in a losing season for Carolina.
Licata believes the Cowboys could send a 2025 fifth-round pick for Hubbard and a 2025 seventh-round pick (from the 49ers).
The Cowboys would be getting the Panthers leading rusher through the first seven weeks of the season. Hubbard has rushed 103 times for 537 yards and three touchdowns. The former fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State has added 93 receiving yards and one touchdown in the passing game.
