Inside The Star
The Dallas Cowboys backfield took a significant hit this week as veteran RB Miles Sanders was placed on season-ending injured reserve after a knee injury required surgery, ending what was shaping up to be an up-and-down campaign.
Sanders, who signed a one-year deal with Dallas in the offseason, provided occasional sparks but often left what Joseph Randle once infamously called meat on the bone.
Despite showing flashes of his trademark quickness and vision, Sanders struggled to consistently break tackles or maximize runs, leaving fans and coaches alike wondering what couldve been.
Through six games, Sanders compiled modest numbers, mixing occasional chunk gains with frustratingly short runs where more yardage was available.
His pass protection and experience were valued by the coaching staff, but he never fully separated himself in a crowded backfield rotation.
Now, his season is over, and there are ripple effects.
For Sanders, this injury likely closes another uncertain chapter in whats been a rollercoaster career.
The Cowboys brought him in on a one-year prove-it deal, hoping his versatility and veteran presence could stabilize the run game.
Instead, hell end the season on injured reserve, unable to build momentum heading into free agency.
The injury means Sanders will once again enter the offseason as an experienced but unsettled veteran, searching for another opportunity. Hes still just 28 years old, but running backs of his age and workload rarely get multiple chances to reinvent themselves.
The Cowboys appreciated his professionalism and locker-room presence, but business in the NFL is ruthless, especially at his position.
His future may now depend on how teams evaluate his 2025 recovery and whether they believe he can regain the burst that made him a second-round pick out of Penn State.
Sanders has always been a player with upside, but availability and consistency remain his biggest question marks.
For OC Klayton Adams and OL Coach Conor Riley, Sanders absence opens the door for a fresh, intriguing option: rookie RB Jaydon Blue.
Cowboys fans got their first look at Blue during last weeks blowout victory over the New York Jets. While his stat line (7 yards on 4 carries) didnt jump off the page, his burst and energy were apparent in limited action.
With Sanders sidelined, Blue now becomes the de facto RB2, sliding behind the teams primary ball carrier Javonte Williams and likely earning more meaningful snaps.
Adams has shown a willingness to tailor the run game to his players strengths, and Blues speed and outside-zone potential could inject a new dimension into the offense.
Expect the Cowboys to use him in rotation, possibly even experimenting with screens and motion packages to get him into space.
Cowboys Nation has long clamored for more young playmakers, and this is the kind of opportunity fans and coaches can rally around.
While losing Sanders is unfortunate, it may accelerate the teams youth movement and help the coaching staff identify whether Blue can be a long-term contributor.
In the end,...
