The Dallas Cowboys have revamped their running back roster this offseason, blending seasoned veterans with promising rookies to vie for the starting role. Among the contenders, one name stands out as a potential dark horse: former Penn State and Philadelphia Eagles standout Miles Sanders.
Sanders, who had a limited role with the Carolina Panthers last season, managing only 55 carries due to injuries, is being overlooked by some in favor of former Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams. However, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer is quick to caution against underestimating Sanders’ potential.
“I don’t know why anyone would be surprised by Miles’ ability,” Schottenheimer remarked, as reported by Clarence Hill. “Having been in the division and playing against Miles when he was in Philadelphia, you talk about a guy that’s a home run threat, a guy that’s got incredible ability to hurt you running, catching out of the backfield, all that stuff. Very smart, very bright.”
Sanders’ track record supports Schottenheimer’s confidence. During his four seasons with the Eagles from 2019 to 2022, Sanders showcased his dynamic skill set, culminating in a stellar 2022 season where he rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns. After signing a four-year deal with the Panthers ahead of the 2023 season, Sanders was unexpectedly cut just two years into the contract. Yet, Schottenheimer remains convinced of his ability to make an impact.
Competing alongside Sanders is Javonte Williams, who rushed for 513 yards and four touchdowns with the Broncos last season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. The Cowboys have also added rookies Jaydon Blue, a fifth-round pick from Texas, and Phil Mafah, a seventh-round pick from Clemson, to the mix, intensifying the battle for playing time.
Schottenheimer emphasized that the competition remains wide open, with no clear frontrunner at this stage. “We want these guys to compete,” he said. “The thing we know about Javonte and Miles – they’ve been there, they’ve done that. They’ve both had very successful seasons. They have a little bit of a head start because they’ve been here since the start of Phase 1, so they’re a little bit ahead of Phil and Jaydon.”
However, the rookies are not to be discounted. Schottenheimer noted the potential of Blue and Mafah, suggesting that the offseason and training camp will be critical in determining the pecking order. “When you look at what you see from Jaydon and you see from Phil, you see it’s going to be a really fun offseason, a fun training camp,” he added.
The true test, according to Schottenheimer, will come when the pads go on during training camp. “You’re not going to find out much about running backs watching them compete in shorts,” he explained. “It’s not how the game is played. So we won’t really know.”
As the Cowboys prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on this revamped running back room. While Williams brings proven production and the rookies offer fresh talent, Miles Sanders’ explosive playmaking ability and veteran savvy could make him the surprise starter Dallas fans didn’t see coming.