One of the notable highlights for the Dallas Cowboys this season has been their running game, led by veteran running back Javonte Williams. Williams, who was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, has shockingly been one of the best RBs in the league through six weeks, racking up 476 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries. He’s also added 22 receptions (28 targets) for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Williams has exceeded expectations, which is more than what the rest of the Cowboys’ RB room can say.
Miles Sanders is out for the remainder of the year because of an ankle injury, and rookie Jaydon Blue has struggled in his first two games. That being said, if Dallas is looking for another option in the backfield, they should go after this second-year running back who was just let go by the Philadelphia Eagles.
On Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Audric Estime was released from the Eagles’ practice squad.
Cowboys Should Consider Signing RB Audric Estime After Eagles Release
If the Cowboys were to lose Williams for any period of time because of injury, they would be in trouble. Blue would be next up in the RB rotation, but hasn’t shown much with seven carries through two games (seven yards on seven carries). And it would be foolish for the Cowboys to give him a heavier workload if push came to shove.
Then there’s fellow rookie Phil Mafah, who is still on injured reserve, and Malik Davis, who is on the practice squad but hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2023. Needless to say, a fresh face is needed.
At least with Estime, the Cowboys know what they are getting from the young running back. As a rookie with the Denver Broncos last season, the former Notre Dame running back had 310 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries (4.1 YPC) in 13 games.
Estime isn’t much of a threat out of the backfield as a receiver (five receptions for 27 yards), but he’s a downhill, in-between-the-tackles runner, which works perfectly for the Cowboys’ offense. The young running back got caught in a numbers game in Denver, which ultimately led him to Philadelphia at the end of the preseason.
The Eagles couldn’t find any use for Estime, but that doesn't mean the same is true for America's Team. If the Cowboys are looking for a high-upside player who doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear and could be the RB2/RB3 in the offense, look no further than Estime.