The Dallas Cowboys are gearing up for a competitive season in their backfield, with a mix of fresh talent and seasoned veterans vying for the spotlight. The team bolstered its roster by drafting rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, retaining fan-favorite Deuce Vaughn, and signing free agent Miles Sanders. However, it’s another free agent acquisition, running back Javonte Williams, who might hold the key to the Cowboys’ ground game—or face a career-defining crossroads.
NFL.com writer Nick Shook recently highlighted Williams as a player entering a critical “make or break” season. After a lackluster stint with the Denver Broncos, Williams signed a one-year, $3 million deal to lead Dallas’ backfield, which some have labeled underwhelming. “Williams fizzled out in Denver and ended up accepting a one-year, $3 million deal to headline Dallas’ underwhelming backfield,” Shook noted. “The sizzle he once brought to the Broncos faded before 2024, but he has a rare opportunity to regain it for a Cowboys team that should boast some offensive firepower, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens at receiver.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Williams. With the Cowboys’ offense poised to shine, thanks to dynamic receivers like Lamb and Pickens, the running game needs a reliable spark. Williams, as a veteran, has the experience to claim the starting role, but he’ll face fierce competition during training camp from the team’s younger backs. The rookies, Blue and Mafah, along with Vaughn and Sanders, are all hungry for snaps, and the coaching staff may lean toward their potential as the season progresses.
For Williams, the path to securing the starting job lies in his early-season performance. If he can rediscover the explosiveness that once defined his game, he could solidify his role as the Cowboys’ primary running back and potentially extend his NFL career. However, a slow start could see him overtaken by the team’s younger talent, putting his future in the league in jeopardy.
Williams will have a crucial opportunity to prove himself at the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp next week, the team’s final gathering before training camp in Oxnard, California. Every carry, every cut, and every block will be under scrutiny as he fights to show he’s still got what it takes. For Javonte Williams, this season is more than just a fresh start—it’s a do-or-die moment that could define the rest of his career.