Unfortunate Cowboys news is about to give a rookie a massive opportunity that he badly needs
Dallas Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue might just get to start in Week 18.
The Dallas Cowboys are entering the final weekend of their regular season banged up, and that means a huge opportunity lies ahead for rookie running back Jaydon Blue.
Blue, a fifth-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has spent most of the season as a healthy scratch despite preseason expectations for him to become an important piece of the Cowboys’ RB rotation. Ahead of a Week 18 showdown against the New York Giants, he might very well start as a result of unfortunate injuries at the RB position.
Cowboys are officially down multiple RBs
On Friday’s final injury report, the Cowboys ruled out Javonte Williams (shoulder) and Malik Davis (eye). Perhaps if this wasn’t a Week 18 “meaningless” game in terms of playoff contention, the Cowboys might have rolled with at least one of them. Williams in particular has been nursing a shoulder injury for a while.
Instead, the Cowboys are turning elsewhere for running back help. And considering the only other rostered running backs are Blue and fullback Hunter Luepke, it seems like a huge opportunity for the former to get the start.
Earlier this week, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters he still believes Blue has “electric” playmaking ability. Despite the speed and acceleration displayed by the rookie at training camp, however, his playing time has been limited due to a lack of consistency.
This is a major chance for Blue
Ahead of a 2026 offseason in which the Cowboys could be searching for a new running back, putting together a strong performance could be major for Blue’s long-term future in Dallas. Fortunately for him, facing the Giants is just what the doctor ordered.
Through 16 games, the Giants rank dead last in run defense per EPA per play and success rate. It’s been a unit posting historically bad numbers against the run. As long as Blue gets some solid blocks upfront, he has the playmaking skills to have a big day. Then again, we’ll see how he operates in a near RB1 capacity. There’s a reason the Cowboys have refused to play him. We’ll see if that shows on the field, or if Blue does enough to reignite the coaches’ trust in him to end his rookie season on a positive note.
Another rookie RB could be in the mix
Schottenheimer suggested Friday the Cowboys could make some roster moves at RB before the game. That opens the door for seventh-round rookie RB Phil Mafah, who has spent all season on Injured Reserve but this is his third week practicing.
If not Mafah, the Cowboys could also elevate RB Israel Abanikanda from the practice squad to round out the RB room.
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