Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys' Week 6 clash against the Carolina Panthers, all eyes are on Rico Dowdle, who is making his return to Dallas after just delivering the best performance of his career last week. Yet, it's not just the Panthers' running back room that fans will be paying attention to. The Dallas Cowboys will likely be without veteran rusher Miles Sanders for a second straight week, after team insider Nick Harris reported that he missed practice again on Thursday. This gives exciting rookie Jaydon Blue another chance to impress Brian Schottenheimer and the coaching staff.
Blue made his NFL debut in Week 5 after being a healthy scratch to start the season. The fifth-round pick saw 11 offensive snaps against the Jets and wasn't relied on too heavily, perhaps due to Javonte Williams' dominant game, where he ran for 8.4 yards per carry. Blue contributed with 11 yards on four carries for his part.
Jaydon Blue Gets Another Big Chance to Prove Himself in Week 6
The Cowboys are hoping that the talented rookie can flash more in more snaps against the Panthers. If Blue can be effective, he could gradually take over as the RB2. For now, however, he hasn't proven that he can be better than Miles Sanders in his limited snaps.
Despite a quiet debut, there is room for optimism. The Jets may have been a winless team, but they actually have a solid run defense. Going up against them behind an offensive line that was missing four starters was not an ideal NFL debut situation. The Panthers' defense may pose less of a challenge than last week.
Plus, he was still able to demonstrate his elite speed that has every Cowboys fan so excited in his 32-yard kick return. Blue's pace and acceleration are unmatched, and he has the upside that the 28-year-old Sanders doesn't have.
One way Blue can earn more of a role is on special teams. KaVontae Turpin will miss a second straight game, giving Blue more return opportunities in Week 6. If he can make an impact there, he could force Schottenheimer's hand, even when Sanders and Turpin return. Considering how neither of their injuries is very serious, this may be the best chance for Blue to earn a permanent rotation role. Whether he will step up in the biggest game of his NFL career so far will be fascinating to watch.