Cowboys' Deuce Vaughn Project Could Be On Its Last Leg

The Dallas Cowboys got the 2025 season underway in a 31-21 preseason-opening loss to the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night at SoFi Stadium, and while head coach Brian Schottenheimer's "vanilla" offensive game plan expected to see some heavy run-game action, that was not the case early.

Backup quarterback Joe Milton was thrown into the fire with six consecutive pass plays before a designed QB run to start the game. As Milton struggled out of the gates, Dallas turned to the ground for some brief signs of life from depth dwellers Deuce Vaughn, Phil Mafah and Malik Davis.

Vaughn, the Cowboys' longest-tenured ball-carrier, got the start behind Milton, but was quickly out-shined by his teammates throughout the game.

The seventh-round rookie Mafah got off to a strong start with multiple chunk runs up the middle. He would eventually taper off his production, but made an impression on Schotty in his debut. "I thought Phila Mafah ran really hard,” coach said Mafah picked up 14 yards in his first three carries. “I thought that was good.”

Davis was the Cowboys' last-ditch resort in the waning moments of the wire-to-wire loss. After joining the team mere hours before kickoff, the two-year vet raced out to 63 yards on over nine yards per carry in the second half.

He spoke about this opportunity to play after his late signing this offseason: “It’s a great feeling when you’re able to go out there and put on a great performance for your teammates, coaches, and most of all just proving it to myself like I belong here and I’m supposed to be here,” Davis said.

As for Deuce? Just two carries for 11 yards - eight of which came on one of those handoffs.

Yes, the shifty 5-foot-5 back's sample size featured his patented jump cuts that always seem to get fans optimistic in the preseason ... but that optimism might be drying out as we scope the rest of his competition.

Mafah and Davis each built up arguments to rise over him in the depth chart. With presumed roster locks Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and Hunter Leupke sitting out and exciting rookie fourth-rounder Jaydon Blue also nursing an injury, Vaughn is threatened with a harsh reality.

He's got the most to prove, but the least amount of opportunities to do so.

Not only could he potentially find his way to the Cowboys' practice squad again, but he could be cut if he doesn't show something when - or if - he gets the chance. He'll stick around until the injury bug finishes running its course on the room, but once everyone's healthy, Deuce is likely sitting on the outside looking in here.

Schotty followed his game plan Saturday by featuring Mafah (10 carries, 36 yards), so hopefully for Vaughn's sake, one of Dallas' next two preseason games focuses on him as the primary back.

He needs the looks. Or else this fan-favorite project is on it's last leg in 2025.