Deuce Vaughn is fighting for his NFL life this month

Near the end of the 2023 NFL Draft, Deuce Vaughn became the darling of the draft. The video of Vaughn being drafted in the sixth round by the Dallas Cowboys quickly went viral. His own father, Chris Vaughn, the Cowboys’ assistant director of scouting, made the call to tell him that he had been drafted.

You couldn’t watch that video with a dry eye unless you were completely soulless.

Off To A Good Start

Over the first five weeks of the season, Vaughn had a role in the offense.

It wasn’t a major role, but he was getting playing time.

Over those five games, Vaughn had 20 carries for 40 yards to go along with five receptions for 19 yards on five targets. He had one 10-yard punt return too.

In total, he had 48 snaps on offense and another 19 on special teams.

Again, he wasn’t on track for MVP with those numbers. However, at least he was playing.

Where It Went Downhill

After the loss to the 49ers in the fifth week of the season, Vaughn’s playing time was severely curtailed. He only played in two games the rest of the way. Vaughn was listed as inactive for nine games.

He was active but didn’t play in the season finale at Washington.

In the two games he played — Week 10 against the Giants and Week 16 against the Lions — he was limited to a combined 13 snaps on offense and 12 on special teams.

He had one run for negative two yards and an 11-yard catch against the Giants. Vaughn had two yards on two carries and a 10-yard catch against the Lions.

He did have nine yards on three punt returns against the Giants.

When the playoffs began, Vaughn was active for the Wild Card game against the Packers, but he never saw the field in the 48-32 loss.

For whatever reason, Vaughn tumbled down the priority list when it came to game planning at The Star.

The Road Ahead for Deuce Vaughn

It isn’t going to help Vaughn’s chances that he’s dealing with a hamstring injury at camp.

The injury is impacting how many chances he’s getting on the field in Oxnard. He needs as much work as he can get in what has become a crowded running back room.

Cowboys Current Roster of Running Backs:

Ezekiel Elliott

Rico Dowdle

Royce Freeman

Snoop Conner

Malik Davis

Nathaniel Peat

Deuce Vaughn

Hunter Luepke (FB)

As things stand right now, Elliott, Dowdle, and Freeman are likely locks to make the final roster.

Based on recent comments by both Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy, it seems likely that Hunter Luepke will make it as a fullback.

Last year, the Cowboys carried three running backs and Luepke at fullback. That doesn’t bode well for Vaughn. Nor Conner, Davis, and Peat for that matter.

Nor does it help that Royce Freeman is reportedly having an impressive camp.

Then add that cutting Vaughn wouldn’t be all that costly to the Cowboys’ salary cap. Under that set of circumstances, it seems Vaughn has dark clouds looming overhead.

Vaughn’s Best Hope

There’s still a lot of camp remaining and a season-changing injury is always one play away. Vaughn could still land a roster spot if someone ahead of him goes down.

If Vaughn’s days in the offensive backfield in Dallas are indeed numbered, however, all hope isn’t lost for him remaining in Dallas and in the NFL.

Thanks to the new NFL rules regarding kickoffs, Vaughn could remain as a special teams player. He would also serve as an insurance policy at running back in case of a mid-season injury.

If the Cowboys adopt having two returners back, an option some teams are exploring, Vaughn would likely team up with KaVontae Turpin.

Vaughn’s size would give him plenty of opportunities to get lost in the wash of a return.

If Vaughn can get his hamstring healthy, he can make his best case to stay on the roster, or at worst, the practice squad on special teams.

And if he can’t? Then Vaughn’s fairy tale story will come to an end in less than a year-and-a-half.