The Dallas Cowboys have finished with a 7-9-1 record following their loss to the New York Giants in Sunday's regular-season finale.
It’s hard to put too much stock into a game in which Dallas rested most of its starters in the second half, but it still served as a showcase for young players like Jaydon Blue, who are trying to prove they deserve a role in 2026.
Appearing in his first action since Week 8, Blue was the biggest bright spot in an otherwise sloppy afternoon for the offense, carrying 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Full of confidence after the game, Blue sent an unmistakable warning to the NFL.
“That was a preview of next year," Blue said.
Jaydon Blue is ready for the Cowboys to trust him after Week 18 breakout
It remains to be seen what the Cowboys will do at running back in the offseason, though it stands to reason that they will try to bring back Javonte Williams and potentially Malik Davis. It is a mystery if Brian Schottenheimer wants Blue to be in the picture, but that is the most ideal outcome.
If Williams gets re-signed, Blue would be a great change-of-pace back. His speed and elusiveness are a perfect complement to Williams' bowling ball running style. That was seemingly the vision when Dallas used a fifth-round pick on Blue last April, but maturity issues led to him being a healthy scratch for most of his rookie year.
Schottenheimer repeatedly pointed to “consistency” when asked about Blue’s limited playing time. That points to growth needed in the Monday-through-Saturday side of the job. Whether it’s mastering the playbook, sharpening the nuances of the position, being more locked in during meetings, or all of the above, talent has never been the issue for the former Longhorn.
Sunday was just a glimpse of what Blue can do when trusted. He didn't run with the same efficiency in the second half, but that coincided with Dak Prescott getting removed from the game. The entire offense lost some juice when Joe Milton took over at quarterback.
As long as Blue approaches the offseason with the right mindset, he should be part of the running back rotation next year. He wouldn't have been active against the Giants if the Cowboys were "done" with him, and Schottenheimer said that he was excited to watch Blue play.
Hopefully, Sunday was a sign of things to come.