Micah Parsons' return to AT&T Stadium didn't end in a victory or loss, instead ending with a 40-40 tie between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Although all of the attention was (rightfully) on Parsons this weekend, it was Cowboys running back Javonte Williams who garnered attention for a solid Sunday Night Football outing.
Williams was relatively quiet out of the backfield until the second half, finishing with 20 carries for 85 rushing yards and a touchdown. Despite the successful outing, the Cowboys could still be open to a backfield shakeup, considering that the options behind Williams haven't exactly blown anyone away.
While pulling off a trade or signing a free-agent RB are possible solutions, so would be finally playing rookie runner Jaydon Blue.
Cowboys Must Finally Play Rookie RB Jaydon Blue After Week 4
The Cowboys signed Williams and Miles Sanders to lead their RB room in March, but that didn't stop America's Team from using a fifth-round pick on Blue. The ex-Texas Longhorns rusher's local ties combined with his speed and pass-catching abilities had Dallas fans excited about his outlook, but that excitement hasn't been as high lately because Blue still hasn't played a game.
The Cowboys kept Blue as a healthy scratch throughout September, indicating that Schottenheimer's staff still isn't fully confident that the rookie is ready. That trend continued in Week 4, coming a few days after Dallas' HC blamed the team needing extra defensive bodies as the main reason why the first-year pro hasn't suited up just yet.
At the end of the day, the Cowboys don't have anything to lose by seeing that they have with Blue as early as Week 5. Although fans have every reason to believe that Williams' success will continue, it's clear that Dallas doesn't fully trust Sanders, as proven by his averaging only five carries through four games.
Throw in the fact that the former Carolina Panthers RB isn't the strongest pass-catcher, and it's even easier to justify throwing Blue into next week's lineup. The Houston native amassed 503 receiving yards and seven touchdown grabs in his last two seasons with the Longhorns, which is the type of receiving option that the Cowboys' backfield would greatly benefit from.
There's plenty to be proud of from the Cowboys' latest effort, but there's also plenty of room for improvement. Finally playing Blue would allow Schottenheimer & Co. to find out if the rookie RB's toolkit is enough to take the offense to the next level, potentially setting the stage for America's Team to challenge for a playoff spot.