Why Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue feels he’ll put disappointing rookie season behind him
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Rams' New Star PlayersBrowns Upgrade WR Corps2026 Training Camp DatesNFL Minicamp StorylinesAnalysisWhy Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue feels he’ll put disappointing rookie season behind him
Jaydon Blue's rookie season in Dallas didn't play out the way he — or the Cowboys — hoped it would. Al Bello / Getty Images
By Jon MachotaJune 25, 2026 6:01 am EDT UpdatedThe most memorable moment from Jaydon Blue’s rookie season had nothing to do with his play in a game.
It was the time he briefly pulled himself out of an October practice because his custom Nike Louis Vuitton cleats were causing blisters.
Dallas Cowboys coach and offensive play caller Brian Schottenheimer was not pleased.
“That’s part of what you deal with in young players,” he said at the time.
The 3 biggest takeaways from Cowboys' minicampJon MachotaIt’s something a coach could look past if Blue were performing well. But the fifth-round pick had a disappointing rookie year, playing in only five games.
The Cowboys need much more from Blue in Year 2. He’s the ideal complement to starting running back Javonte Williams. But can he consistently perform up to expectations?
“He’s doing great,” Schottenheimer said recently. “He came back with a different look than what he had his rookie year. I think most rookies have to figure it out. We had a very candid conversation at the exit interviews. We kind of put it all out there, put all the cards on the table. He didn’t like being inactive, and I was very honest with my opinion of why he wasn’t active.
“We had some really great conversations. He took that, he ingested it, took it in and he’s come back with a great look on his face and a great work ethic. (His) intelligence is off the charts. I mean, the guy is football brilliant. He really is. Obviously, his speed and his explosiveness. He’s going to be a huge part of what we want to do, but he’s got to continue doing his part, which he’s doing great right now. I would say (he’s) night and day from where he was last year.”
Williams had an outstanding season in his first year as Dallas’ lead back. He finished with a career-high 1,201 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. That led to a new three-year, $24 million contract in February.
The Cowboys’ leading rusher is set. Williams did very little on-field work during organized team activities and minicamp. The team knows what they have at No. 1. It’s the No. 2 job that remains up in the air — and there’s no question the Cowboys would prefer that to be Blue.
But he has to earn it.
“I didn’t start off like I should have,” Blue said. “Maybe if it was not practicing the right way or just on a maturity level, I think I wasn’t really there. But just learning from all the vets, having the offseason that I’ve had, I think I’m ready to go.
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“Just looking back on the things I didn’t do too well and some of the reasons I wasn’t on the field last year, taking the stuff my coaches were saying and making sure I apply them, whether that’s this offseason or when I’m by myself.”
Blue only had 129 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries in 2025. He didn’t make his debut until Week 5.
“I use it as motivation,” Blue said. “Of course I want to be on the field. But at the same time, I know this is the NFL, so any week things can change. I just want to make sure that this year and upcoming years, that’s not a problem for me.”
The running back depth chart at this time last season was Williams, Miles Sanders, Hunter Luepke, Blue, Deuce Vaughn, Phil Mafah and Malik Davis.
Sanders and Vaughn are no longer on the roster. Davis made the biggest impact of the others, finishing with 52 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.
The Cowboys believe Blue’s ability as a pass catcher would make him the perfect match with Williams. What Blue could bring in the passing game would also add another element to what should again be one of the NFL’s best offenses.
Williams’ 252 carries last season were the 10th-most in the NFL. Dallas would like that workload to be a little less so Williams can be as fresh as possible later in the year.
After the Cowboys took Blue in the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, the running back played in just five games as a rookie. (Andrew Dieb / Imagn Images)Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams is a significant factor in their run-game plan. This is how he sees the debate between bell-cow running backs versus a committee approach.
“I think that is just very specific to group by group,” he said recently. “There are some guys around this league that they are just totally good at taking 300-something carries or whatever per year. And there are guys that are going to be a lot better if you know exactly what their limits are.
“I think if you have that guy, like Derrick Henry is an example I always think of. That guy is just out there every week, takes a ton of carries, and he’s just bigger and stronger than everybody, then I think that’s the way you go. I’ve always been a little bit more in places where you try to keep your starting guy as fresh as you possibly can and spell him with another player.”
The quarterback spot, starting running back, wide receiver/tight end group and majority of the starting offensive line are basically set. Schottenheimer and Adams are back for a second season. There aren’t many questions left with the offense.
Left tackle is still the biggest question mark. But No. 2 is the backup running back spot. If Dallas lost Williams for an extended period, it would be a major concern.
Blue’s Year 2 growth could go a long way to alleviating potential anxiety.
Minicamp and OTA practices don’t show much in terms of what to expect when the pads come on in training camp. That will be the real test. But it was interesting to see Dak Prescott targeting Blue in the passing game during some first-team work in team drills and seven-on-seven. Following one practice open to reporters, Blue stayed after to work with Prescott on red-zone routes.
“The game has slowed down completely for me,” Blue said. “I just think I’m a completely different person than what I was at this time last year. I think it was just me looking myself in the mirror and (figuring out) why I wasn’t on the field like I should have been last year. Knowing how bad I want to be a part of this offense and how big of a piece I could be for this offense, helped me out a lot.
“I think I made a 180 from where I was last year. I think I’ve gotten a lot better, whether that’s the football part, the physical part, my body, I feel really good. I’m just ready to go.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
