After one preseason game and nearly three weeks of practice in Oxnard, most of the Dallas Cowboys' position battles are starting to take shape. Not all have firm conclusions just yet, but the final two preseason fixtures should bring the requisite clarity for the coaching staff.
The backup running back battle is a different story. In fact, there arguably are more questions about the position than when training camp started. Perhaps an alpha will emerge after Saturday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, but it's not crazy to think that Dallas' RB2 isn't on the current roster.
Cowboys fans got a new reason to believe that may be the case during Brian Schottenheimer's Thursday media availability. Asked to name some players who've exceeded expectations in camp, Schottenheimer glossed over Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah (h/t Nick Harris, Star-Telegram).
Schotty even included Javonte Williams.
The Dallas Cowboy need more from Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah
Asked Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer for five guys that have exceeded his expectations at training camp. He gave us 10:
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) August 20, 2026
- DB Caleb Downs
- OLB Rashan Gary
- DT Otito Ogbonnia
- CB Shavon Revel Jr.
- WR Jonathan Mingo
- WR Camden Brown
- OT Tyler Guyton
- RB Javonte Williams
-…
Did Schottenheimer snub Blue and Mafah in the name of motivation? Maybe, but that's probably a reach. After all, two rookies -- Caleb Downs and undrafted receiver Camden Brown -- made the cut, and Brown's spot on the 53-man roster isn't a guarantee (yet).
Saturday's preseason win only created more questions regarding Blue and Mafah, so it's no surprise they didn't make Schottenheimer's list of standouts.
Neither back got great blocking from the offensive line, and that just doesn't lend itself to Blue's impatient running style. While creative in open space, Blue really struggles between the tackles, frequently pressing the hole without letting blocks develop and rarely plunging forward through contact.
It made for a difficult valuation, but Blue didn't do much to help himself other than a 13-yard catch-and-run pass out of the backfield.
Mafah was even harder to evaluate, as he departed early with a chest injury. He has since returned to practice, a positive indicator for his status against the Cardinals, but he only touched the ball five times (four carries, one catch).
The Cowboys clearly wanted to get Blue, Mafah, Malik Davis, and Israel Abanikanda between 7 and 10 touches. Everyone but Mafah cleared that benchmark. Suffice it to say he can't afford another injury between now and the end of camp.
Malik Davis and Israel Abanikanda looked good in Week 1 of preseason
Davis and Abanikanda looked much better than Blue and Mafah. Granted, they got better blocking and faced the bottom of Seattle's defensive roster, but a good performance is a good performance.
The problem with keeping Davis is that Dallas clearly wants to get younger at the position. He turns 28 in December, albeit with only 90 career carries. He's definitely fresher than most "older" backs. More importantly, he's the best all-around RB on the roster not named Javonte Williams. Will that win out in the end?
We're intrigued by what Abanikanda could look like behind the starting offensive line, but his most realistic path to the field is catching on with the practice squad post-cuts and earning a gameday elevation.
Maybe that changes over the next two weeks, but there's got to be a reason he's only appeared in six regular-season games since getting drafted in 2023, right?
The closer we get to the regular season, the more likely it seems that the RB2 isn't in Oxnard. There'll be no shortage of backs on the waiver wire and trade market during roster cuts.
Blue, Mafah, Davis, and Abanikanda have the power to end this conversation. That would make it easier on everyone, but they're running out of time.
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