The Dallas Cowboys' 2025 training camp is officially underway, and things haven't started off all that promising, to say the least. First-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer didn't hide how he was disappointed in the Cowboys' first camp practice, and things took a turn for the worse when multiple physical altercations broke out throughout Wednesday's sessions.
It wasn't the start to training camp that Cowboys fans hoped to see, so hopefully, things improve going forward. Several positional groups must step up if Dallas is to return to the postseason in January, and that includes a pair of backfield additions who have failed to prove their worth this week.
Cowboys RBs Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders Have Underwhelming Start to Training Camp
The Cowboys' running back room needed to undergo some changes once the NFL offseason began. After Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott's contracts expired, Dallas went out to replace the duo by signing veteran RBs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. It seemed like a decent plan at the time, considering how the pair have tallied 1,000-plus scrimmage yards a combined five times.
Williams and Sanders occasionally looked impressive during organized team activities (OTAs) and the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp; however, neither RB showed much juice to begin training camp.
Following Tuesday's practice, The Athletic's Jon Machota shared videos of Williams and Sanders running some drills. Unfortunately, the veteran tandem struggled to give Dallas fans anything to be excited about, as the free agent signings looked noticeably slower than they did in past years.
Javonte Williams pic.twitter.com/EGn0uSwIvp
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 22, 2025
Miles Sanders pic.twitter.com/gFOw3rJJmc
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 22, 2025
Hopefully, the underwhelming performance is a result of some offseason rust, and the Cowboys' RBs shake it off sooner rather than later. Dallas' backfield was the cause of many headaches last season, and the last thing HC Schottenheimer needs is more of the same in his first year leading an NFL bench.
If the recently-added runners don't turn things around, the door could be open for rookie Jaydon Blue to steal the RB1 role. Although he hasn't created training camp shockwaves just yet, this year's 149th overall selection had a decent run during Wednesday's practice that showcased some solid speed and tackle-breaking ability (h/t @NickHarrisFWST).
At the end of the day, having a reliable backfield is important for teams to find success in the NFL. If the Cowboys want to be a force in 2025, one of Williams, Sanders, or Blue must step up and take the reins to prove that there is a legitimate RB1 in Dallas.