Just when things seemed like they were starting to look better for the Dallas Cowboys at their most vulnerable position, another setback is set to take the wind out of their sails.

In the Cowboys’ final preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on August 22, rookie running back and possible starter Jaydon Blue was forced to exit the game in the second half following an ankle injury.

It’s the second significant injury setback for Blue in the preseason. On August 7, Blue had to leave practice with an ankle injury and had been out for several weeks leading up to the game against the Falcons.

The first time Blue was injured, he had just started to earn reps with the first team offense.

Against the Falcons, Blue had 9 carries for 25 yards and 1 touchdown before he was injured running the ball in the second half.

It was the first preseason action for Blue after he missed the first 2 preseason games due to his original ankle injury.

Blue was a fifth round pick (No. 149 overall) in the 2025 NFL draft out of the University of Texas.

The Cowboys have until August 26 to cut down to their 53-man roster and open the season on Thursday, September 4, with a road game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Unclear Why Blue Was Even Playing

It’s fair to ask the question as to why Blue was even in the game, because when we think about it critically it really doesn’t make any sense.

Blue had already shown enough in training camp that he was considered close to being the starting running back by August 7 — almost guaranteeing him a spot on the 53-man roster.

The smart move would have been to protect his ankle until the regular season opener and ramp up his work in practice until that opener.

We can blame that on a rookie head coach in Brian Schottenheimer, which will do little to help the Cowboys or their fans when they take the field against the Eagles.

There’s nothing the Cowboys could have discerned from watching Blue play against the Falcosn they couldn’t have figured out in practice.

Blue Seemed To Overtake Pair Of Veterans

It didn’t take long for Blue to steal reps from a pair of veteran free agents brought in to compete for the starting running back spot — by July 30 he had already begun to play ahead of  Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.

“Rookie running back Jaydon Blue got reps with the first team today for the first time,” Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. wrote on his official X account on July 30. “It’s an example of his growth and development.”

“For the first time on Wednesday, rookie running back Jaydon Blue took first team reps with the offense alongside Dak Prescott,” Tommy Yarrish wrote on the official Cowboys web site.

“For the most part, Blue was running with the second team, but made the jump today and had a couple carries up the middle.

Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams were also still taking first team reps, but clearly Blue has done enough for this coaching staff to give him his first shot.”