After Miles Sanders was lost for the season after Week 4, the Dallas Cowboys had questions about who their backup running back would be. The duo of Sanders and Javonte Williams proved to be a good balance of power and speed, an unexpected element to an explosive offense.
The Cowboys drafted Jaydon Blue in last year’s draft, but he has yet to see meaningful playing time. Now, the team has seemingly sent Blue a message by addressing the RB2 position.
On Sunday, Jon Machota from The Athletic reported the Cowboys signed running back Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad. Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that this isn’t the first time the Cowboys have shown interest in Abanikanda since he came into the league in 2023.
It’s also worth mentioning that Phil Mafah is still on injured reserve, another running back the Cowboys are high on.
As for Blue, he is coming off his fourth straight DNP. Blue's healthy scratches are indicative of him not earning the trust of the coaching staff yet. In October, for example, Blue suffered blisters on his foot after wearing Louis Vuitton x Nike cleats before his NFL debut. It was definitely a questionable situation considering the rookie was looking forward to his first opportunity a few days later.
Blue has the potential. His speed and agility were reasons why the Cowboys drafted him. However, he has a history of fumbling the ball and struggling to pass protect when asked to do so. His inability to even suit up is a big concern moving forward, especially because the team used a draft pick on him.
Their problem might already be solved, though. After an impressive outing highlighted by a 43-yard touchdown run, Malik Davis has seemingly earned his way up the depth chart. The breakout performance even earned Davis a drug test from the league office.
Regardless of who backs up Williams for the rest of the season, Blue should be fueled with motivation to prove that he can be that guy for the Cowboys. He has the makings to be a good back in the league, but he needs to prove that he is serious and can be trusted.
Until the rookie does that, it is hard to envision Blue earning any more of a role in the Cowboys' rushing attack than he currently holds, which isn't much to hang his hat on.