FRISCO — Dante Fowler admits he could have done things differently.
When the Cowboys pass rusher signed a one-year deal worth $6 million in the offseason to become an added piece to the pass rush, he wasn’t in the best of shape.
After playing in 20 games for the Washington Commanders in 2024, which included three playoff games, Fowler didn’t recover well in the offseason to prepare for 2025.
Fowler came in heavier than he wanted to, 260 pounds, and it slowed his production in 2025.
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A year after a 10 1/2 sack season with 39 tackles, Fowler ended the 2025 season with just three sacks and 15 tackles. He had just two tackles the last four weeks of the season, including none in the regular season finale against the Giants on Sunday.
“Totally off my rhythm,” Fowler said Monday as the Cowboys cleared out their lockers. “I did come in a little too heavy. I thought 260 would be a good weight, but [after] talking to the coaches, we thought me coming in at 255 and under would be a better weight for me to play at, and I did see better production. It was just a long season man, but me and [coach Brian Schottenheimer] talked. I’ll be all right next year.”
The Cowboys have 15 unrestricted free agents to make decisions on, including Fowler, who is still trying to figure out what his future holds.
During a two-year period in 2022 and 2023, Fowler had 10 sacks and 40 tackles before signing a one-year contract with Washington.
Now he’s headed to free agency.
“I don’t know what my mindset is, I just want to get back in the lab and get with my agent and my dad and go over things with my body, because I was pretty beat up this year,” Fowler said. “Just being in the NFC Championship [with Washington], having a long season last year and coming right back and not being able to do things I was supposed to do to my body, which probably was the main reason why I didn’t have the production I was supposed to have. On top of the scheme of the defense, it is what it is. I just got to get back in the lab.”
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