The Dallas Cowboys will take their show on the road this weekend for a matchup in the Windy City against the winless Chicago Bears. With Sunday's showdown on the horizon, the players who will be healthy enough to take the field and contribute for the Cowboys are becoming clearer, and that isn't the best news for rookie running back Jaydon Blue.
After being selected in the fifth round of this past April's draft, the former Texas Longhorns standout has yet to see any action for Dallas. After comments from special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen provided Blue with a glimmer of hope that his number would be called upon against the Bears, it appears less likely that this will be the week that opportunity comes for Blue.
"We rep all these guys so they're ready, so if he does get that call, he's at least got the reps," Sorensen replied when asked how Blue fit into the rotation for Week 3, via Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com.
Jaydon Blue’s Week 3 Chances Slimmer After Cowboys Practice Report
Blue's pathway to getting on the field this weekend seemed largely contingent upon return specialist KaVonte Turpin being unable to play after he left last weekend's win against the New York Giants with a neck injury.
Turpin was a limited participant in the Cowboys' walkthrough on Wednesday, still leaving the door open for Blue. Thursday's practice, however, was a much different story as Turpin was in his helmet and shells and participating in the portion of practice open to the media. As long as no other issues with his neck pop up between now and Sunday, all signs point toward Turpin being good to go against Chicago.
This leaves Blue out of the running back rotation with how Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders have performed thus far, as they have propelled the Cowboys to the No. 10 rushing offense after two weeks of play. The developments with Turpin this week show that Blue is on the outside looking in as part of the kick-returning unit.
At this point, it is fair to wonder whether the brain trust in Dallas is regretting using its fifth-round pick on the running back, as he has yet to find a way onto the field after receiving plenty of hype leading up to camp.
Until Blue shows it during a regular-season game, though, the comparisons to other greats who had a similar physical build and preseason praise are nice things to hear, but remain meaningless without the production to back it up. Unfortunately for Blue, it's looking like he'll have to wait, at least, another week for that opportunity to present itself.