Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue . Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images

Hyped Cowboys rookie has a rough start to his NFL career

By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 7:57 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys are hoping a member of their revamped backfield will seize control of the lead running back job early in the season, but their highly touted rookie is not off to a great start.

Jaydon Blue is a player who generated hype throughout the offseason as someone who could emerge as the Cowboys' new top back in 2025. While there is plenty of time for that to happen, Dallas made the rookie a healthy scratch for its season-opening game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.

The @dallascowboys inactives at Philadelphia:

#23 Jaydon Blue (RB)
#50 Shemar James (LB)
#58 Mazi Smith (DT)
#69 Ajani Cornelius (T)
#75 Hakeem Adeniji (T)
#76 Trevor Keegan (G)
#99 Perrion Winfrey (DT)
— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) September 4, 2025

Blue, a fifth-round pick out of Texas, battled foot and ankle injuries early in training camp. He had not been on the injury report, however, which is why he was somewhat of a surprise inactive.

The Cowboys completely revamped their backfield this offseason. In addition to drafting Blue, they added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency. Dallas decided to roll with its two veterans over Blue in Week 1.

Blue rushed for 730 yards and eight touchdowns at Texas last season. He was also an excellent receiver out of the backfield with 42 catches for 368 yards and six scores.

Blue will likely get an opportunity at some point during the 2025 season, but he clearly has not done enough to impress head coach Brian Schottenheimer and the Cowboys' coaching staff just yet. Fantasy football managers might be more disappointed about that than fans in Dallas.

Steve DelVecchio

Steve is a veteran writer who has covered a variety of sports and pop culture topics for more than 15 years. In addition to Yardbarker, his work has been featured on prominent digital publications including Larry Brown Sports, MSN and FOX Sports. The UConn graduate has published more than 40,000 stories and is one of the most experienced trending news writers in the country

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