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.

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.

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.