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Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys head into the 2025 NFL season still reeling from one of the most underwhelming campaigns in recent franchise history. As has become the norm of late, the Cowboys started the 2024 season with postseason hopes, possibly culminating in a long-awaited Super Bowl victory. But as it turned out, their campaign ended with a losing record, Mike McCarthy’s exit, and a brutal 2–7 home mark.
While many factors contributed to the team’s downfall, one area stood out consistently as a liability: the run game. Despite CeeDee Lamb logging his third straight 100-catch season and kicker Brandon Aubrey setting an NFL record with 14 field goals of 50-plus yards, the Cowboys’ offense lacked balance, and it showed over the course of the season.
The unit finished 26th in EPA per rush and relied heavily on a pass-first script, which became increasingly predictable and unsustainable, especially late in games. Unsurprisingly, the Cowboys soon fell out of playoff contention, marking the start of a new chapter under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Talking about Schottenheimer, he is a coach who comes with years of experience as an offensive coordinator under revered coaches. He has also been someone who’s long leaned on a strong run game, which is why he is now tasked with fixing a backfield that’s being widely panned by analysts.
“They have no running attack, let’s just be real about it,” said NFL analyst Denny Carter on a recent NBC show, referring to the current rotation of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue. “Come on, man,” Carter added, clearly unimpressed with the names on paper.
It’s not just Carter expressing doubt. Fellow analyst and panellist on the show, Kyle Dvorchak, also chimed in with tempered expectations, saying, “What do they have this year? One of the worst backfields in the NFL.”
Meanwhile, Dvorchak acknowledged that Dallas still has a competent offensive line and top-tier receiving talent in Lamb and newly acquired George Pickens, which could allow Dak Prescott to rack up fantasy numbers. That said, he also highlighted that it’s hardly a reliable indicator of real-world success.
So, what did Jerry Jones and the Cowboys do to improve their ground game? On the surface, not much. They let Rico Dowdle — their only 1,000-yard rusher in 2024 — walk in free agency to the Panthers along with Ezekiel Elliott, who had returned on a one-year deal.
In their place, Dallas signed Williams and Sanders, both of whom have failed to recapture past form. Williams posted a 64.6 PFF rushing grade over his last three seasons in Denver, while Sanders has been in steady decline since his peak 2022 season in Philadelphia.
As for the draft, the Cowboys added Jaydon Blue in the fifth round — a speedster with receiving upside but not someone built to carry a full NFL workload or serve as a between-the-tackles threat. Something, a PFF report made it clear too: “He’s never been a workhorse type of back.”
These factors leave Dallas in a similar spot as 2024 — a team with passing firepower but a glaring weakness in offensive balance.
While there is food for thought over whether Jerry Jones should have traded up and gone all in for Ashton Jeanty at the draft, the roster holes seem too many. Even if the revamped offensive line and new coaching staff inject some efficiency, it’s hard to envision them as a top-10 scoring offense without a reliable run game.
That’s the concern shared across analyst desks — and one Schottenheimer must solve if this team is to avoid another lost season.
Until then, as Carter bluntly put it, “They’re not going to run the ball at all.” And if that holds true, any bounce-back for Jerry Jones’ Cowboys may be more of a fantasy than reality.
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Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Chargers, Cowboys Connected In Micah Parsons Trade Rumor
Micah Parsons officially requested a trade, and every single team in the league should have some interest in acquiring the superstar. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time First-Team All-Pro, Parsons is one of the best players at one of the game’s premier positions and, now entering his age-26 season, should have several years of elite play left in his tank. Players like this usually earn record-setting contracts, and Jerry Jones does not seem willing to hand out that kind of money. With this in mind, Bleacher Report‘s Alex Kay proposed a trade where the Cowboys will trade Micah Parsons to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a fifth-round pick, and running back Najee Harris. “Parsons, meanwhile, would help L.A.’s already impressive defense be even better, potentially for longer,” Kay writes. “While the Chargers still have a high-profile pass-rusher in Khalil Mack, he’s 34 and set to play on a one-year deal. With $32 million in cap space, the Chargers could afford to make Parsons their long-term defensive star.” Chargers, Cowboys Connected In Micah Parsons Trade Rumor Micah Parsons may have requested a trade, but as of this posting, the Cowboys do not seem interested in granting his wish. This is par for the course with Jerry Jones, as the owner has a long, detailed history of drawing out these types of negotiations. He did it with quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and history could be repeating itself with Parsons. However, for the sake of argument, let’s assume the Cowboys eventually decide to trade Micah Parsons. If this happens, they should be happy with this type of return. The Khalil Mack trade is the closest comparison to Parsons, and the Raiders parted ways with him and a 2020 second-round pick for two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and a sixth-round pick. This is roughly an equivalent value to what Kay offers in his article, so it’s easy to see Dallas pulling the trigger on this Micah Parsons trade. However, it would probably need to happen before the start of the regular season, as Najee Harris is a part of the deal. While he’s just a throw-in, the running back is currently playing on a one-year deal, and his value depreciates by the week. Would the Chargers Do This? Micah Parsons is a phenomenal player, but would the Chargers give up this much in a trade for one player? While we’ll never know for sure, the Chargers are the type of team that could make this risk. Head coach Jim Harbaugh brought this team to the playoffs last year, quarterback Justin Herbert is one of the game’s top talents, and the roster is loaded with talent. This team may be one piece away from a Super Bowl, and Parsons could take them to the next level. The Chargers have a strong team, but they need an influx of talent to overtake the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. A Micah Parsons trade could be the missing piece this team needs as they finally look to go on a deep playoff run for the first time since the Philip Rivers days.
Commanders still seeking new contract with disgruntled star despite trade request
Terry McLaurin has been the Washington Commanders' top wide receiver since he burst onto the scene as a third-round pick in 2019. With five 1,000-yard campaigns in the last five years, "Scary Terry" has proved his worth as a premier pass-catcher. McLaurin played an integral role in leading Washington's offense back to prominence, notching a second-team All-Pro nod in 2024. So while the Commanders have no doubts about McLaurin's talent, the fact that the former Ohio State Buckeye is pushing 30 with just one year remaining on his contract has given the franchise a reason to pause extension talks. McLaurin is set to make a base salary of $15 million in the final year of his current deal, but is believed to be seeking an extension worth north of $30 million annually. The two sides failed to come to an agreement earlier in the offseason, though, prompting the talented receiver to request a trade. At that point, it seemed as if McLaurin would be dealt to a new team. But the Commanders quickly realized they couldn't allow their longest-tenured skill player to leave for pennies on the dollar. Despite McLaurin's public trade request, Washington is still looking to mend the situation, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. "The Commanders do not intend to trade him, according to the people I've spoken to there, and they say they continue to work toward a contract extension," the veteran sports journalist reported. After winning the first playoff matchup of his career against the Buccaneers in the wild card before upsetting the Detroit Lions in the divisional round last season, McLaurin has less of a reason than ever before to leave Washington. He battled through several of the franchise's toughest seasons and now has the opportunity to catch passes from one of the NFL's most intriguing young arms in Jayden Daniels for years to come if he wants. It's understandable why McLaurin desires a massive payday, especially after making less than $1 million annually throughout his base rookie contract. After years of sustained excellence, though, he won't have to worry about a salary increase. He'll easily garner $30 million a year, give or take a couple of million dollars. McLaurin may not receive a deal that places him alongside the likes of Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, but neither he nor the Commanders should spend much time squabbling over a few million. With the team shaping up to be a bona fide playoff contender for the foreseeable future, Washington remains the best home for McLaurin.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
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