Cowboys’ biggest bombshell surprise from 2026 NFL training camp

Things are looking up for a Dallas Cowboys rookie. And the team is still basking in the afterglow of the Micah Parsons trade. Plus, there’s more good news from the preseason. Here is the Cowboys’ biggest bombshell surprise from 2026 NFL training camp.

Already boasting one of the NFL’s top offenses, the Cowboys have seen a young running back develop and add to the team’s riches.

Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue looking the part

A former fifth-round pick, Blue barely saw the light of day in 2025. Perhaps that was a mistake, given the way he has looked in this year’s training camp. Blue keeps ripping off legitimate explosive plays.

It’s going to be hard to keep him off the field. A role as the third-down back seems close to certain as the season nears.

Blue said he has been intentional about doing well in all phases this season. That includes learning the playbook, according to dallascowboys.com.

“I’m just [focused on] stacking these good days out here,” said Blue. “I’ve just been more intentional. Like I said, this offseason, my main priority was making sure that I stayed in the playbook and was doing things that the coach was asking me to do.

“The game has slowed down a lot to me. It’s kind of coming easy to me now. I probably know the playbook like the back of my hand now. Once I know the playbook like that, I can play fast.”

Last year, Blue made it to the field for just five games. It was an essentially meaningless Week 18 appearance where the Cowboys finally gave him some real rope. It was as if the Cowboys were saying this is what he could experience if he would do all of the things it takes to be a professional football player.

“I took [last year’s lessons] to heart, Blur said. “I’m having a great camp so far.  I didn’t want to come in here and start slow like I did last year. I wanted to make sure I came in here, started fast, and proved myself.”

What does HC Brian Schottenheimer see?

This is the key perspective, of course. All of the praise from outside the team really amounts to just noise. But Schottenheimer seems to be buying into the Blue noise as well, according to The Athletic.

“He’s doing great,” Schottenheimer said recently. “He came back with a different look than what he had his rookie year. I think most rookies have to figure it out. We had a very candid conversation at the exit interviews. We kind of put it all out there, put all the cards on the table. He didn’t like being inactive, and I was very honest with my opinion of why he wasn’t active.

“We had some really great conversations. He took that, he ingested it, took it in and he’s come back with a great look on his face and a great work ethic. (His) intelligence is off the charts. I mean, the guy is football brilliant. He really is. Obviously, his speed and his explosiveness. He’s going to be a huge part of what we want to do, but he’s got to continue doing his part, which he’s doing great right now. I would say (he’s) night and day from where he was last year.”

To his credit, Blue acknowledged the shortcomings.

“I didn’t start off like I should have,” Blue said. “Maybe if it was not practicing the right way or just on a maturity level, I think I wasn’t really there. But just learning from all the vets, having the offseason that I’ve had, I think I’m ready to go.

“Just looking back on the things I didn’t do too well and some of the reasons I wasn’t on the field last year, taking the stuff my coaches were saying and making sure I apply them, whether that’s this offseason or when I’m by myself.”

And the good news is offensive coordinator Klayton Adams seems to prefer keeping Williams fresh as opposed to a 300-carry season. That opens the door for more of Blue.

“I think that is just very specific to group by group,” Adams said. “There are some guys around this league that they are just totally good at taking 300-something carries or whatever per year. And there are guys that are going to be a lot better if you know exactly what their limits are.

“I think if you have that guy, like Derrick Henry is an example I always think of. That guy is just out there every week, takes a ton of carries. And he’s just bigger and stronger than everybody, then I think that’s the way you go. I’ve always been a little bit more in places where you try to keep your starting guy as fresh as you possibly can and spell him with another player.”

Could RB Jaydon Blue be fantasy relevant?

If there’s an injury to Javonte Williams, Blue’s value would skyrocket. But that’s not the only path. The Cowboys could have the best offense in the NFL. That means every time Blue is on the field, he will have a chance for a big play because of the other skill threats the defense must contain.

So there’s a path to being sneaky good in fantasy, according to The Athletic.

“Blue will be active as a receiver, and he’ll benefit from Klayton Adams’ system and defenses focusing on stopping two star wide receivers,” Dalton Del Don wrote. “Phil Mafah would see plenty of work should Javonte Williams go down, but Blue’s situation gives him big fantasy upside. Blue’s ADP was dirt cheap most of the summer, but it’s been climbing thanks to some training camp hype.”

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