If the Dallas Cowboys begin to question the status of their run game, there should be a handful of players on the block to choose from. As teams have started shifting away from a “feature back” and utilizing committees, it has given running back-needy teams a better chance of landing a starting-caliber rusher on a short-term timeline.
The Cowboys tweaked their backfield ahead of the 2025 NFL season, but not everybody is sold on their situation being all that productive. That’s why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently considered the Cowboys a potential suitor for the Jacksonville Jaguars running back, Travis Etienne.
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“The Dallas Cowboys should already be calling about Etienne’s availability,” Knox wrote late last month.
“They currently have a backfield headlined by Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders—two big question marks, given their recent production—and have shown a willingness to trade for talent post-draft.”
The Cowboys added an offensive weapon back in May, taking advantage of the inevitable breakup between George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a move that’s been praised plenty league-wide, as Dak Prescott gets another stellar weapon on his side.
Could they look at upgrading the backfield more? In the future, possibly. At this time? Not exactly.
According to Mike Fisher of CowboysCountry, a team source made it “perfectly clear” that any rumors circulating about the potential interest of Etienne are simply “false.” The same can be said about the running back position in general.
It’s necessary to note that “at this time” was used to describe the Cowboys’ current thinking on the matter. The availability of Etienne or any other available running back could very well be revisited later on in the year, depending on how the season plays out for the current core.
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The Cowboys will roll out Javonte Williams on their team for the first time next season. Williams just wrapped up a four-year run with the Denver Broncos. In 54 appearances, Williams acquired 606 carries. He has over 2,300 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns to date.
Last season, Williams rushed for 513 yards and scored four touchdowns. His rookie season in 2021 remains his most productive, as he came just 97 yards of cracking 1K.
Competing for carries with Williams will be the former Carolina Panthers running back, Miles Sanders. After getting off to a hot start in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders landed a notable contract during the 2023 free agency period. He joined the Panthers and posted his lowest totals for two years in a row.
Last season, Sanders appeared in just 11 games. He carried the ball 55 times for 205 yards. Sanders scored just two touchdowns.
Prior to landing in the situation with the struggling Panthers, Sanders accounted for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns in a season with the Eagles. With a reliable offensive line and luck in the health department, Sanders has proven to be in the elite tier of running backs. The Cowboys hope to see him get back on track, leaving them out of any potential Etienne market sweepstakes.
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