Jaydon Blue: Everything you need to know

Blue rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in the passing game during Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants. Blue spent most of his rookie season as a healthy inactive, but he took on the lead-back role in the regular-season finale as the Cowboys played without Javonte Williams (shoulder) and Malik Davis (eye/calf). Blue made the most of his opportunity, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 14-yard run in the first quarter. The 2025 fifth-round pick will try to carve out a larger role in his second NFL campaign after dressing for only five games as a rookie. Blue had 38 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown while catching his only target for five yards across those five appearances.

Blue is set to lead the Cowboys backfield Sunday at the Giants with Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) ruled out for the contest, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports. A rookie fifth-round pick, Blue has previously seen action for the Cowboys from Weeks 5 through 8, when he combined for 22 carries for 65 yards and one catch (on one target) for five yards. Assuming he leads the backfield Week 18, his competition for reps will be fullback Hunter Luepke and potentially 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah (shoulder), the latter of whom must be activated from injured reserve Saturday in order to play Sunday.

Blue (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against Washington, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. Blue has fallen out of the Cowboys' running back rotation, as he hasn't played since Week 8. Dallas will carry just two running backs -- Javonte Williams and Malik Davis -- plus fullback Hunter Luepke into their Christmas Day matchup.