Brian Schottenheimer Sees ‘Different Mentality’ From Jaydon Blue

FRISCO, Texas — Jaydon Blue played 78 offensive snaps as a rookie and hurt his shoulder in this year’s preseason opener at Seattle. He is competing for a rotation spot with four days left before the Dallas Cowboys have to reach 53 players.

Blue has always picked up the scheme well, and Schottenheimer said the step forward has come in pass protection and in the return game.

“I think he came back, and I’ve said this before, I think he came back with a different mentality, which is great. He’s always been extremely bright and picked up the scheme very, very well,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s been good for us to see him take the next step in certain areas, whether it’s pass protection, whether it’s some of the stuff in the return game. But I noticed it early on that there was a little bit different intentionality about him. But he’s got to continue to compete because that’s a deep room as well. And we’ll see how we figure out the rotation. But it was early on for sure.”

The Dallas Cowboys Running Back Competition

There is still a lot of competition in the backfield, and Schottenheimer said each position battle sets up differently as the roster comes together.

“There’s still a lot of competition going on,” Schottenheimer explained. “Each position battles a little different as you guys try to set your roster.”

Javonte Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension in March. He carried 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and played 769 offensive snaps. Malik Davis played 155 offensive snaps last season and 147 on special teams. Phil Mafah played 10 on offense. Fullback Hunter Luepke played 251 on offense and 240 on special teams, and Dallas has carried him as a separate roster spot.

Jaydon Blue’s First Year In Dallas

Dallas drafted Blue in the fifth round in 2025 out of Texas. Those 78 snaps were 6.58% of the team’s total, and he played 11 more on special teams. Williams took 769 of the offensive snaps in that backfield, 64.84% of the team’s total.

The Cowboys spent the first three weeks of camp at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California, and returned to The Star on Aug. 24.

The shoulder injury came on Aug. 15, and Blue was limited in practice the following week. He carried eight times for 19 yards that night and was the first running back on the field.

KaVontae Turpin played 138 special teams snaps last season. Jonathan Mingo has worked as a gunner and a returner this camp.

Dallas sat 29 players in the Arizona win and is 2-0 this preseason. The Cowboys have to move 37 players off the 90-man roster by Sunday.

Friday’s finale against New Orleans kicks off at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium on CBS locally. Rosters must be at 53 players by 5 p.m. CT Sunday, Aug. 30. Dallas opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13, at the New York Giants at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.