Team news: Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn is getting waived.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah

Watkins went on to post the Cowboys had Vaughn on practice squad last year for a bit. Might return to that in 2025. RB room was top heavy with vets this year and the emergence of rookie Blue. This likely also means the team is keeping Sanders. Even with Mafah on the IR, as reported yesterday, Vaughn wasn't able to crack the top-three.

The Cowboys will place rookie RB Phil Mafah (shoulder) on Injured Reserve, per sources.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue

The plan is for him to return during the season, the post went on to say. Mafah had 15 carries for 59 yards and one touchdown in the preseason. Mafah didn't quite have the hype of the Commanders Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but many thought there was an opening for him to be the team's early down back with also some upside in the passing game. With Mafah on IR, it opens the door for Sanders to make the team. Williams looks locked in as the team's RB1 with Blue likely getting passing down work.

Javonte Williams continues to see the most reps with the starters. Miles Sanders has been sidelined with a knee injury, so the door has been opened for rookie Jaydon Blue to get more opportunities with the first team. Blue suffered an ankle injury last week that kept him out of practice and Saturday’s preseason game.

Related players: Phil Mafah, Hunter Luepke

The story added Mafah has been much more noticeable since the pads have come on and he's been a name to watch so far. Fullback/tight end Luepke continues to play a variety of roles, making it highly unlikely that he would be part of the roster cuts. It's been widely said that Blue could have a big role, but has never been a carry-the-load kind of back, so it's likely to be some kind of committee. Mafah has been a more popular name lately and he could end up emerging as the early-down option, even if Williams continues to get the most reps.

Jake Ferguson is dealing with a back contusion suffered Thursday, according to a source. Not considered serious so the Cowboys avoid a scare with their starting tight end.

Related Players: Luke Schoonmaker

Good news for Ferguson here. As a clear option to be the No. 3 pass-catcher in a pass-heavy offense, he should be considered as a fantasy asset in the fringe TE1/2 range.

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Micah Parsons remains with the team even though he wasn’t at today’s practice.

More evaluation needed on RB Jaydon Blue and TE Jake Ferguson but they don’t think either injury is significant

Related Players: Luke Schoonmaker

Sounds like a rough day at practice for the Cowboys, but we shouldn't bump Ferguson down the ranks until we hear it's a more serious injury than it looks. As a clear option to be the No. 3 pass-catcher in a pass-heavy offense, he should be considered as a fantasy asset in the fringe TE1/2 range.

Jaydon Blue spent time in the injury tent and just walked off the field on his own power.

Looks like he might be done for today.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders

Sounds like something minor, but all fantasy eyes will be on him as we continue to try to make sense out of this backfield. Williams seems like the frontrunner to start the season as RB1, but with his and Sanders' inefficiency in recent years, the rookie is a very interesting target late in drafts.

Fast forward to the 10th practice of Dallas' training camp on Monday, Javonte Williams is still in pole position and being creatively utilized in 11-on-11 team drills: he lined up on a pass play as the outside wide receiver with wide receiver George Pickens lined up inside in one formation.

Related players: Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah

On Monday we posted a story about how Blue has been impressing in camp. In this story, it was another rookie in Mafah who earned comments about his performance so far. This is one of the bigger situations to watch because things seem pretty wide open at the RB position.

The running back group has been an interesting one to monitor. Javonte Williams entered camp as the probable No. 1 guy. Miles Sanders then started to stand out a little more. With those two being the veterans, they could get the bulk of the touches early in the season. But lately, Jaydon Blue has been standing out more and more.

The story added Blue has been getting some first-team reps, and added when given the opportunity, he’s been taking care of the football, showcasing his speed, athleticism and quality hands. Each day that goes by, Blue appears to be getting more comfortable with the offense and speed of the NFL game, the story went on to say. The scouting report on Blue before and after the draft has been mixed. But, it's hard to imagine Williams and Sanders dominating this backfield all season, so with Blue standing out, it's very possible he starts to get a bigger role as the season goes on. Blue can be had later in drafts and may be a potential sleeper for your roster.

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue fired back after a former Cowboys assistant fueled rumors that the franchise's fifth-round pick is viewed as "borderline lazy" by the rest of the team. Glenn Smith, who previously worked on the Cowboys' staff from 2000-01, made the claim during a recent appearance on the "Locked on Cowboys" podcast, explaining that some inside the building are frustrated with Blue's work habits.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, Phil Mafah

The former Texas standout projects to be an immediate factor in the Cowboys backfield this season with a lack of explosiveness elsewhere in the room.

Blue didn't let the criticism go unchecked, posting on social media, "lmao taking time out yo day to make fake article about me for attention," according to the story. Blue is expected to have a big role in the offense this season, especially considering Williams and Sanders are coming off disappointing seasons a year ago and sit above him on the depth chart.

[Glenn] Smith said that coaches with the Cowboys have expressed that Blue is “borderline lazy” and that the team is not thrilled with his work habits. That isn’t a great sign for a fifth-round pick who is not only trying to earn a role on the offense, but also make the roster.

Blue was a part of OTAs and rookie minicamp, but there haven’t been any reports of him working with the first team yet. And this could explain why.

Related Players: Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah

Mosher later reiterates that Blue could legitimately be fighting for a roster spot here, so the news really couldn't be much worse for the rookie. If Blue can't deliver an impact, we have even more questions for a Cowboys backfield that already looked like one of the weakest in the league. Williams and Sanders have been woefully inefficient over the last couple of seasons, and Mafah was himself a seventh-round selection hoping to lock in a roster spot. We currently have Williams ranked as a mid-tier RB3, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to sniff around on Mafah in Dynasty leagues, where he could be on waiver wires, depending on roster sizes.