With the Dallas Cowboys’ first joint practice in the books, the preseason is suddenly right around the corner.
If it feels like training camp is flying by, that’s because it is, making it a little concerning that Jaydon Blue hasn't put much distance between himself and Phil Mafah in the battle for the backup running back spot ahead of Saturday's preseason opener.
Tuesday's joint practice against the LA Rams was a prime stage for Blue and other players in contested position battles to make their case. Unfortunately, Blue couldn't seize the moment, as he coughed up a fumble early in team drills and saw his workload dwindle for the rest of the day.
Fumbling was one of the biggest knocks on Blue coming out of Texas. He’s kept the issue under wraps for most of camp, but his old habits resurfaced at the absolute worst time.
Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue better squandered a golden opportunity vs. the Rams
Blue was a dynamic weapon for the Longhorns, racking up 1,098 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns on 6.2 yards per touch in his final season in 2024. He shared a backfield with some special talents over his three years in Austin, but ball security was always his biggest hurdle.
In fact, Blue fumbled seven times across his last two years at Texas, with five coming in 2024. Dane Brugler of The Athletic crunched the numbers and found Blue fumbled once every 25 touches that season. That kind of liability is a non-starter in the NFL, and alongside concerns over his professionalism, it explains why he fell to the fifth round.
Blue has put together a bright summer. One giveaway shouldn't erase the progress he's made. Brian Schottenheimer has praised the second-year back's approach this offseason, noting a "night and day" difference in his professionalism after a frustrating rookie campaign hampered by immaturity
However, just when it feels safe to buy into Blue's potential, he pulls the rug out from under himself. Putting the ball on the ground in his first live reps against an opponent is a surefire way to lose the trust of the coaching staff.
Jaydon Blue's margin for error is smaller than it's ever been
In a way, Tuesday served as the unofficial start of the Cowboys' preseason. Joint practices are often the only time we get a real look at the starting offense and defense.
It remains to be seen how many starters will actually suit up on Saturday, but outside of next week's joint session with the New Orleans Saints, Blue won't get many more live reps with the first-team offense. His margin for error gets smaller with each passing day.
Nobody is claiming he permanently damaged his bid for the RB2 job. It's not as if Phil Mafah, Malik Davis, or Israel Abanikanda made waves against the Rams. It was tough sledding for every Cowboys back not named Javonte Williams. Blue made the loudest blunder, but he managed to avoid a complete disaster.
The door for RB2 is still wide open, but it could slam shut if Blue continues to put the ball on the turf over the next three weeks.
Add us as a preferred source on Google