Cowboys: Fan favorite's season comes to an end just before the playoffs

Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn's season is coming to an end just two weeks removed from the postseason as the team is placing him on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury.

The running back who rapidly became a fan favorite because of his fantastic underdog story along with the epic draft call between he and his dad, Cowboys' scout Chris Vaughn, never really guaranteed his spot on the team without a role on special teams and some struggles in pass protection.

That led to him being a healthy scratch for most of the season. In Week 17, he played for an injured Rico Dowdle as RB2. The news about his being placed on IR likely indicates Dowdle should be healthier ahead of the regular season finale against the Washington Commanders. 

It's also a painful bucket of cold waters for fans, whose expectations ran amok in the preseason after the rookie delivered some electric highlight plays at least once per week. 

No one should be giving up on Vaughn, however. As a sixth-round draft pick, it's only fair to give him some time for his development as a pro. With that being said, this injury news don't really move the needle on the Cowboys' playoff hopes.

Theoretically, Vaughn could return if the Cowboys make it to the Super Bowl. That makes it highly unlikely he'll see the field again this year as it would take Dallas making it to the big one and the team actually intending to use him. 

Vaughn's placement on IR in turn opened the door for DE Viliami Fehoko Jr. to be activated to the 53-man roster after spending several weeks on IR himself.

The fourth-round rookie has yet to make his regular season debut with the Cowboys as he was a healthy scratch for most of the year. Dallas is unlikely to use him barring any injuries on the defensive line at this point.

But now, Fehoko Jr. has a chance at playing football in Year 1 of his NFL career, maybe even in the playoffs, even if the Cowboys likely hope it doesn't come to that.