Cowboys Rookie ‘Gaining Traction’ To Be Day One Starter

With the right approach, maybe the one position group singled out as not only the very worst on the Dallas Cowboys but possibly the worst in the NFL might be able to turn things around.

And if the Cowboys have truly found a starting running back in 2025 fifth round pick (No. 149 overall) Jaydon Blue, it could take the top off the offense in a way no one may have anticipated.

Blue’s ascension at Cowboys training camp continued on July 30 as he picked up his first reps with the first team offense and gained traction to be a Day 1 starter over free agent additions Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.

“Rookie running back Jaydon Blue got reps with the first team today for the first time,” Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. wrote on his official X account. “It’s an example of his growth and development.”

“For the first time on Wednesday, rookie running back Jaydon Blue took first team reps with the offense alongside Dak Prescott,” Tommy Yarrish wrote on the official Cowboys web site. “For the most part, Blue was running with the second team, but made the jump today and had a couple carries up the middle. Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams were also still taking first team reps, but clearly Blue has done enough for this coaching staff to give him his first shot.”

Schottenheimer Praises ‘Lazy’ Blue Narrative

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised Blue’s efforts through the first part of training camp. Specifically, how Blue has addressed rumors he was lazy, which may have caused him to fall to the Cowboys so late in the draft.

Whatever the narrative was on Blue, the University of Texas product ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. That gets you noticed.

“I think in the spring he picked it up slower than we had hoped,” Schottenheimer told Hill. “But not now. He’s got it. He’s figuring it out. He’s one of those guys that doesn’t say much, but there’s a big time competitive fire in there. He wants to be great. He wants to be elite. He knows he’s talented. I think he’s realizing, ‘OK, I’m really talented. I’m really good. But I’m in the NFL now… so I have to do the things off the field, preparing mentally in the class room, studying a little bit extra the installs for the next day, taking care of my body.’ It’s been fun to see.”

Cowboys RBs Don’t Look Very Good on Paper

Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports, who named the Dallas backfield as the “NFL’s Worst Position Group” ahead of the 2025 season, which is somewhat reflective of their spending on the position.

Williams received a 1-year, $3 million contract and Sanders received just a 1-year, $1.3 million contract.

“Dallas is welcoming a whole lot of new at running back this year, with four new faces in the room,” Crabbs wrote. “Are they better than what they were last year with Rico Dowdle serving as the primary runner? I’m not sure. I think there are a number of other strong candidates for the running back position but for full transparency, I wanted to save some of those teams for another position. (Javonte) Williams and (Miles) Sanders are well-seasoned players but among the league’s most low-efficiency runners in recent years.”