Blogging The Boys
Jaydon Blue is preparing for a much better second season in the NFL.
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.
“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.”
Will Rashan Gary perform well in 2026?
Sure, the Cowboys spent their second of two first-round draft choices on Malachi Lawrence, a 3-4 defensive end but potential edge on the nickel. Sure, they spent their third-round draft choice on Jaishawn Barham, an inside linebacker/edge at Michigan with pass rush capability. But these are rookies.
Sure, they spent last year’s second-round draft choice on promising edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, who should be ready for the start of training camp after hip surgery. He did have 45 total tackles and two sacks while starting nine of 17 games last year. And the Cowboys still haven’t given up on 2022 second-rounder Sam Williams, bringing the fifth-year player back on a one-year deal. He had only one sack last year (5 starts in 17 games), coming off his 2024 season-ending ACL tear in training camp. They are still waiting for him to blossom.
So yeah, Gary.
But Gary’s best attribute might just be his ability to play the run. This 2024 Pro Bowler is a sneaky 6-5, 277, the impetus for head coach Brian Schottenheimer to call him a “grown-ass man.” And believe me, if watching video, he’s not out there as a single-minded sack-seeker. He will tackle, evidenced by last year’s 48 total takedowns with the Packers, 7½ for losses. Over his...
