Cowboys' Injured Deuce Vaughn Could Surprise In 'His Role' For Coach Brian Schottenheimer

It was looming as a big offseason for Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn and one where he couldn't afford any slipups.

And a week into training camp in Oxnard, Deuce suffered a hamstring injury, which wasn't believed to be serious, but at this time of year, the Cowboys are playing the cautious game with Vaughn.

But Deuce is part of a running back room that has ample competition with Miles Sanders, Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, who is impressing, along with Phil Mafah, and Hunter Luepke, so he can't afford to miss too much time.

Still, for head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Deuce, at least right now, has a role to play.

“His football instincts are off the charts,” Schottenheimer said. “So intelligent, can play multiple positions. He's really a running back/slot, so you look for those slot matchups, whether it's option routes or change of direction routes where you're trying to use his quickness and explosiveness to match up on a lesser player that he should be able to have a step on.

"Of course, his quickness and suddenness is pretty special. But all those things, they're installed and when he gets back, we'll start using those again.But he kind of knows his role and how he'll be used.”

So ... Deuce has "his role''? Color us surprised.

With the Cowboys' first preseason game just a handful of days away against the Los Angeles Rams, it would have been another huge opportunity for Deuce to stake his claim on a roster spot, although it sort of feels like Schottenheimer just confirmed he already has done some work toward that goal.

With some packages tailored to Vaughn's skillset, in an ideal world, seeing them play out in the preseason scrimmage would have been beneficial, but with Deuce injured, they are shelved.

Still, perhaps the biggest story here is that, maybe inadvertently, Schotty might have just confirmed that Deuce might have a chance to make the roster in 2025.