Not long ago, Jaydon Blue looked like one of the breakout stories of Cowboys training camp. The rookie fifth-rounder from Texas flashed big-play potential almost daily, and it briefly appeared he was carving out a real role in Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams’ offense.
At the same time, many questioned why Javonte Williams—who signed a modest $1.5 million deal—was being treated as the unquestioned starter despite not taking a single preseason snap. But the staff clearly had a plan. Williams has shown why they kept him on ice in August, and Blue’s regular-season struggles have reinforced that camp standouts don’t always carry their momentum into games that count.
Since the Week 8 loss in Denver, Blue hasn’t logged a snap. And after the team added Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Blue will suit up again this year.
Cowboys fans shouldn’t count on seeing Jaydon Blue active again in 2024
Blue might be the most explosive runner on the roster, but if the offensive staff believed he could help them right now, he’d already be playing. His speed and home-run ability are obvious, yet he hasn’t earned the coaches’ trust.
Instead, Malik Davis has seized the No. 2 job. The former undrafted back—who has been waived by Dallas multiple times—has delivered since the bye week, racking up 91 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
Crucially, he’s contributing on special teams. After his touchdown against Kansas City, he immediately followed it with a tackle on the kickoff. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s logged 106 special teams snaps this season, with 53 of them coming in the last three games.
Blue, on the other hand, played only nine special teams snaps before falling out of favor—and all were on kickoff return, not coverage.
If Abanikanda, whose running style fits what Schottenheimer prefers, stands out in practice, the Cowboys may choose to elevate him on game days instead of activating Blue whenever they carry three running backs.
Right now, Blue’s value is at its lowest point. He isn’t trusted in pass protection, doesn’t contribute on special teams, and hasn’t shown enough to justify playing time over Davis, who is doing the little things while averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
