The Cowboys’ first practice in Oxnard gave Jaydon Blue exactly the kind of opening he needed in a crowded RB2 fight.
Dallas was only in Day 1 of camp and still working without pads, so nobody is ready to crown anyone after one session. But Blue made sure his name jumped off the timeline anyway.
Phil Mafah got the first crack behind Javonte Williams, then lost the ball on what was described as an elite punch-out from Rashan Gary. Blue stepped in for Mafah and answered with a 45-yard touchdown on his first touch, a run Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said would have been legit in pads too.
That’s the kind of instant response that turns heads in a competition like this.
After practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic asked Blue about the score, and the second-year back didn’t exactly sound shy about what he brings to the table.
“My speed is what I’m best at," Blue said. "Once I get in the open field and it’s one-on-one, I don’t think anyone in this league can stand a chance.”
Blue showed that burst at times last summer, but it never translated into real trust from the coaching staff. He was a healthy inactive for most of his rookie year, played in just five games, and topped 15 snaps only once, in the regular-season finale.
This offseason has sounded different. Brian Schottenheimer praised Blue during OTAs and minicamp, calling him “night and day” from last season. Blue has also been seen putting in extra work after practice, and he said he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off the playbook this offseason.
Still, one big play doesn’t settle the job. Blue may have landed the first punch, but the RB2 battle is only getting started.
Mafah showed power before the fumble and will get more chances to make his case. Malik Davis enters camp as the incumbent RB2 after holding that spot for most of last season following Miles Sanders’ season-ending knee injury. Israel Abanikanda and Dominic Richardson are in the mix as well, and both are hungry for opportunities.
Blue’s speed will keep him in the conversation, but the real test is whether he can do everything else the position demands. That means staying sharp with blocking assignments, running behind the right blockers, picking up every audible in the playbook, and getting Dak Prescott’s cadence down.
For one practice, though, Blue made the loudest possible statement.
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