It’s Week 5, and for many around the Cowboys, it’s been too long a wait to see what rookie running back Jaydon Blue, chosen in the fifth round of this year’s draft out of Texas, can do. Blue has blazing speed, no doubt, but a series of injuries and reports of questionable work habits have held him back thus far. But on Sunday against the Jets, Blue is finally ready to take the field for the first time for Dallas.
He went so far as to post the game time on his Instagram feed, writing, “12 pm tomorrow” with a fist emoji over a photo of himself. With the Cowboys‘ offense already dealing with CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin out, the team badly needs speed, and that’s Blue’s strong suit. Running back Miles Sanders is also questionable for Sunday.
Instagram (jaydonblue_)Jaydon Blue, Cowboys
Jaydon Blue Ran a 4.38-Second 40
Blue made his mark last season for Texas with his versatility, rushing for 730 yards on 133 carries, and adding 368 yards receiving on 42 catches. He had 146 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns in their playoff win over Clemson, but was shut down in the next two games, going for just 20 yards on eight carries in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
But the Cowboys liked his speed coming out of college, with a 4.38 40-yard dash at the Combine, and felt he was a steal in the fifth round.
An ankle injury in training camp, the Cowboys‘ depth at running back and his practice habits kept Blue off the field, though, and he had been inactive to start the year.
Cowboys Wanted Better Practice Habits
Blue said that coach Brian Schottenheimer had spoken to him about changing his practice habits, though, and that began his push to break onto the 53-man roster on game day.
“Making sure I am finishing the right way in practices. Practicing hard,” Blue said Schottenheimer advised him. “Staying in the playbook and just making sure I am doing the small details right so I can be able to perform at the highest level. He talked to me maybe about two weeks ago and let me know that I need to be more consistent because the talent level was there.
“He told me to be more consistent. I just knew that in order to get on the field, I was going to have to change some of the things I did and just practice a little harder.”
Cowboys ‘Know I Have Talent’: Jaydon Blue
But Blue said slow-rolling his first game was also strategic.
“It was part of the plan. I am just excited that I finally get to go out there and showcase my skills,” he said.
The time off the field has not been easy, and it’s one reason he has been champing at the bit. “The love for the game I have, it’s been tough,” Blue said. “But it has also been fun seeing the other guys have fun and do what they do, so it’s been a blessing to be able to watch the older guys from the bench who have been doing it for a minute.”
Now, the advice from coaches has been more about how to handle his debut, not how to handle practices: “Go out there and play football. They know I have talent, they know I know what I am doing. Just go out there and have fun is the message they tell me. Don’t go out there and be tight, just go out and play the game the right way.”
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