When the Dallas Cowboys selected the running back Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, many believed they were getting a dynamic addition to the backfield. There was hype around the pick, but it never materialized at all.
It has been Javonte Williams' backfield, and based on the comments from Brian Schottenheimer, it appears that Blue still has some work to do to earn the trust of the coaching staff. During a press conference on Friday, Schotty was asked if Blue will play more during the final three weeks of the season, and he responded that the rookie needs to earn it.
"Yeah, if he earns the right to do it, absolutely. He’s no different than the other guys. I see flashes from Jaydon all the time. I see that the talent is real. The standard is not always met, just being quite honest and frank with you guys. I’m not saying anything I haven’t said to Jaydon. But if he keeps working and continues to do a great job in his preparation and all that, then of course he can earn the right to play," Schottenheimer said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic.
The fact that we are 15 weeks into the regular season after months of offseason programs and Blue still has to earn his spot is telling in its own right. It shows the rookie still has a lot of work to do, and he won't be a factor for the remainder of the season.
Jaydon Blue Still Has a Lot of Work to Do in Dallas
Back in the summer, a former Cowboys staffer expressed that Blue was "borderline lazy." Blue then responded to the criticism online and rebuffed it, but based on how the season has gone, it makes you think a bit more about these claims.
The rookie dealt with an ankle sprain in August, which impacted the start of his year, but as a whole, he was never a factor in the backfield. He has just 45 offensive snaps on the year, logging 22 carries for 65 rushing yards. In addition, he has just one catch for five yards.
Williams' breakout this season played a role in why Blue was glued to the bench, but the fact that Scotty said he needs to continue chopping wood in terms of preparation shows how the rookie has probably dropped the ball there.
The combination of the lazy rumors and Schotty saying the standard hasn't been met shows that Blue has a ton of work to do to earn the trust of the coaching staff. Fans shouldn't expect to see him in the backfield to close out the season. It's Williams' show, but the Cowboys have even used Malik Davis as RB2 when Miles Sanders went down for the year with a knee injury.
The Texas product has all the talent that teams look for, but it's the little things that he hasn't been able to excel at off the field that have led to him sitting on the bench. And from the way it sounds, it appears he'll be there for the remainder of the season.