Cowboys Rookie Jaydon Blue Scores First Touchdown Before Leaving With Ankle Injury

The Dallas Cowboys got a glimpse of rookie running back Jaydon Blue’s potential on Friday night — but also a reminder of how fragile preseason success can be.

Blue, a fifth-round pick making his preseason debut, found the end zone for the first time in his NFL career, punching in a 1-yard touchdown run. It was a big moment for the young back as he fights for a role in the Cowboys’ crowded backfield.

Unfortunately, the night ended on a sour note. Blue was ruled out of the game after suffering an ankle injury late in the contest.

Same Ankle That Kept Him Out of Camp

According to the Cowboys’ broadcast, the injury was to Blue’s right ankle/heel — the same one he hurt during an Aug. 7 training camp practice. That initial setback had already kept him sidelined for nearly two weeks before returning to the field on Tuesday.

This new scare comes at an inopportune time, with the Cowboys set to open the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.

How It Happened

Blue had carried the ball nine times for 25 yards, including his short touchdown run, before going down. The injury occurred after he caught a 6-yard pass from quarterback Will Grier and was tackled by Falcons defensive lineman Simeon Barrow with just over 13 minutes left in the game.

To make matters worse, the play was wiped out by an offensive pass interference penalty on wide receiver Josh Kelly.

What’s Next for Blue?

The Cowboys have yet to provide a timetable for Blue’s recovery, but with the season opener just around the corner, any missed time could hurt his chances of carving out a meaningful role behind starter Tony Pollard and other veteran backs.

For now, the promising rookie’s first touchdown will serve as a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating night.