Blue's Breakout Performance
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Arizona Cardinals 34-13 in a preseason game on Saturday, and second-year running back Jaydon Blue turned in a standout performance. Blue finished with 15 carries for 75 yards, leading all rushers in the game. Eight of his carries went for five or more yards. Blue, selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, rushed 38 times for 129 yards and one touchdown in five games last season, with most of those opportunities coming in the final week of the regular season.
The Backup Battle
The performance has intensified scrutiny of the Cowboys' backup running back competition. Malik Davis started the game at running back and finished with 29 yards on five carries, a 5.8-yard average, and added an 8-yard touchdown reception. Israel Abanikanda contributed 39 yards on eight carries.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer acknowledged the competition, saying that Blue and Phil Mafah "are in a tight battle for the backup running back spot." Davis's role as personal protector on punts adds a special teams dimension to his candidacy. "I've always been playing special teams even since college," Davis said. "So my college running back coach, he instilled that in our head... So when I got to the NFL, it was just like riding a bike."
Snap Counts and Practice Reports
Snap counts from the game paint a more complex picture. Blue led all Cowboys running backs in total snaps, but played only two snaps on the opening drive compared to Davis's ten. Davis saw just four snaps the rest of the way, while Blue took 24. Blue's usage extended into the third quarter, suggesting he is battling Mafah and Abanikanda for the No. 3 role. This came after reports last week that Blue was the fourth player up in drills, behind Javonte Williams, Davis, and Abanikanda.
Earlier in the week, ESPN's Todd Archer reported that Blue took "some" snaps in team drills for the first time this week. Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr. noted that Blue got "a lot of work with the first team" during Thursday's practice. Stephen Jones, the team's COO and co-owner, said Blue and Mafah were being "pushed" by Davis.
Perspectives on Blue's Role
The Athletic's Jon Machota offered his analysis: "Javonte Williams is the obvious lead back... But the No. 2 spot has been a competition the last four weeks with no one really separating themselves." Machota noted that Davis seemed the most comfortable as No. 2 at the moment, but added, "Jaydon Blue, who has the higher upside, also played well... The Cowboys just need to see more consistency from the second-year player." He predicted that Davis would start the season as the No. 2 back, but that Blue would take over during the season, with the team keeping four running backs: Williams, Davis, Blue, and Hunter Luepke.
Machota also said Blue was "the ideal fit" to complement Williams, citing his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Blue caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns during his final season at Texas. Williams "probably won't get a whole lot of run" in the preseason, according to Schottenheimer, which could open opportunities for others.
Context and Other Notes
The Cowboys did not address their backfield depth this offseason. Williams was absent from OTAs and minicamp, but Schottenheimer said he's "in a great spot" and that the absence was "more about getting the young guys some reps." Last season, Miles Sanders suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4, and Davis and Blue served as RB2 and RB3 respectively. Mafah was limited to just 10 offensive snaps all season.
In other game notes, Schottenheimer said he wasn't thinking of attempting a 65-yard field goal at the end of the first half, after the Cardinals' Chad Ryland missed a 62-yard field goal with one second left. Dallas quarterback Joe Milton took a knee to end the half. Schottenheimer also praised linebacker Jaishawn Barham: "I saw the physicality that I thought I would see... I saw him rocking heads."
The Cowboys' next preseason game is against the New Orleans Saints, where Blue will look to build on his performance and solidify his role.