There were high hopes when the Cowboys picked up Texas running back Jaydon Blue in the fifth round of last year’s draft. Blue had not been a star during his three years with the Longhorns, but he did establish himself as part of an effective 1-2 punch with excellent speed–he averaged 5.4 yards per carry in Austin and ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the draft combine last winter.
Blue appeared to get a break back in October following the season-ending injury to veteran backup Miles Sanders. With Sanders down, Blue was given the RB2 job behind starter Javonte Williams but he did not do much with it. Cowboys coaches had not been happy with Blue’s work ethic in practices and his ability to play in special teams, and even when he was moved into the playing rotation, that did not change.
Blue played four games in October, but lost the backup job and has not appeared again for the Cowboys since October 26. In all, he has had just 22 carries for 65 yards on the season.
Jaydon Blue Could Start for the Cowboys in Week 18
Now, though, Williams will be out on Sunday with a shoulder injury, and the guy who took over for Blue as the backup, Malik Davis, will be out with an eye injury. The Cowboys find themselves very low on running backs heading into Week 18 against the Giants–and that means Blue will finally get another chance to make an impression before the team goes into the offseason.
Blue could very well be the starting running back on Sunday. The Cowboys have announced that they are activating Phil Mafah, the team’s seventh-round pick from Clemson this year, from the practice squad. Mafah has not made a carry this season.
Cowboys ‘Standard Has to Be Upheld’
Throughout the season, coach Brian Schottenheimer has made it clear that while Blue has electric talent, he has not quite lived up to the standard expected of him in Cowboys practices. Blue has acknowledged that coaches have told him that. Schottenheimer was asked about Blue on Friday, and said he’s still a believer in the talent–but he’s got to meet the standard.
“A huge part of our job as coaches is to develop young players. For example, I will use Jaydon Blue,” Schottenheimer said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “Jaydon is a guy that has been getting better, that has been improving. Has it been up and down and inconsistent? Absolutely it has. But that’s part of young players. But it doesn’t mean that we’re not excited to have Jaydon, it doesn’t mean we don’t expect great things from Jaydon. We’re always trying to do that.
“But at the same time, I talk about it a lot, it is not just the young players, it’s everybody. When you talk about competing every day, it’s all about winning, there is a standard and that standard has to be upheld. Whether you’re gonna play more young guys that are trending to play because of what type of season or whatever it is, they still have to earn it. That’s what is required here if you’re a member of the Dallas Cowboys.”
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