The Dallas Cowboys have had a confusing start to the 2025 season, sitting at 1-2-1 through four games. While the offense has been surprisingly potent even with CeeDee Lamb out, the team has yet to see rookie running back Jaydon Blue take a single snap. With RB2 Miles Sanders’ status for Week 5 uncertain, Blue was poised to make his NFL debut, only for an unusual setback to almost derail it.
Blue suffered an unusual foot injury during practice leading up to the game, and the culprit wasn’t contact or overexertion. According to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the unexpected source was a pair of designer cleats, leaving the team and fans stunned.
The Bizarre Designer Cleat Injury That Could Have Kept Jaydon Blue Out
Blue had been healthy through the first four games, patiently waiting for his NFL debut, until a questionable cleat choice nearly derailed it. The Texas product showed up to Thursday’s practice wearing blue Nike Louis Vuitton cleats, which may have looked stylish but ended up causing discomfort, as Schottenheimer explained on Friday.
“A little questionable decision,” he said. “He went out there with some cool new cleats. Louis Vuitton Nikes. But they give you blisters! And so about halfway through practice, I saw him laying on the side. I thought, ‘What the hell happened to Blue?’ ‘Oh, Coach, I’m fine, I have blisters.’ I was like, ‘Oh, shocker. Look at your cool shoes you got.'”
Fortunately, Blue quickly switched to a more conventional pair of cleats, and the blisters began to heal, giving him a classic “welcome to the league” moment. He fully participated in Friday’s practice and is now cleared for his NFL debut on Sunday against the New York Jets, with Schottenheimer praising his growth and consistency.
“I’ve been hard on Jaydon in the past,” Schottenheimer added. “Talking about the word ‘consistency,’ he’s been way more consistent. He’s showing up, he’s really done a great job mastering what we’re trying to do from a scheme standpoint, and we’re really pleased with it.
The Cowboys haven’t had a need for Blue so far, with veteran Javonte Williams performing at a high level this season. Through four games, Dallas’ offense ranks second in the NFL, according to PFSN’s OFFi metric, and Williams ranks as the third-best running back in the league, per PFSN’s RBi metric.
With backup Sanders now questionable for Week 5, Blue is likely to see playing time alongside Williams on Sunday. He could also contribute on special teams as a returner, with KaVontae Turpin sidelined due to a foot injury.
