Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer began his Friday with bad news: Miles Sanders will miss the rest of the season. The information was confirmed by Stephen Jones on 105.3 The Fan, leaving the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff with a new challenge in their ground game.
With the team at 2-2-1 and a crucial game against Carolina, the timing could not be worse. Schottenheimer will now have to reconfigure his running game and find the right replacement for Sanders.
Jaydon Blue, the big bet
All eyes are on rookie Jaydon Blue, a fifth-round pick in the 2025 Draft. The young Texas running back showed flashes in the preseason –25 yards and a touchdown against Atlanta– but inconsistency and an injury kept him off the active roster for the first few weeks.
Even so, there is full confidence within The Star that Blue can bring a new dimension to the attack, especially with the return of CeeDee Lamb. “We’re excited about what Jaydon can bring,” said Stephen Jones. “He has exceptional explosiveness and can give us something we haven’t had at the position”.
A backfield in reconstruction
Before his injury, Sanders had 117 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, but never managed to establish himself. Meanwhile, Javonte Williams has been the main ground figure, accumulating 447 yards and five touchdowns on 79 attempts, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Sanders will have to undergo a tissue graft surgery on his left knee, a similar procedure to the one faced by cornerback Trevon Diggs earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, another rookie, Phil Mafah, could also bolster the backfield once he recovers from his shoulder injury. Mafah was a seventh-round pick and has been back in practice since Week 5, although he still has to clear the medical protocol to return to the active roster.
Golden opportunity
The stage is now set for Blue. The Panthers allow more than 107 rushing yards per game and 4.5 per carry, a weakness the rookie could exploit immediately. During his time at Texas, Blue shared the backfield with Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, so he is used to competing for prominence.
His explosiveness, speed and natural agility are qualities the coaching staff is hoping to see reflected in Carolina. “If anyone can inject energy into this attack, it’s Jaydon,” a staff member told The Dallas Morning News.
Without looking outside the locker room
With Sanders out, Dallas does not plan to seek outside reinforcements. The current depth with Malik Davis –practice squad veteran– and the possible re-signing of Mafah offer sufficient alternatives for the moment.
Schottenheimer’s challenge will be to keep the running game going without his starting running back, and it looks like Blue will be the man to take over.
Now, with the spotlight on him, Jaydon Blue has the opportunity to prove that he can be the next offensive gem for the Cowboys.
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