FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams said Friday that his career-high workload in 2025 taught him to stay on top of his recovery and the playbook, two days before Dallas plays the San Francisco 49ers without Tyler Goodson.
Williams made the comments in video the Cowboys posted Friday from a running backs availability. Goodson injured his knee in Dallas’ 27-23 win at Indianapolis on Nov. 8, a game in which he ran 12 times for a career-high 77 yards, and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that Goodson will miss multiple weeks. Williams is the only running back on Dallas’ active roster.
Williams carried 20 times for 101 yards against the Colts and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run with 1:08 left. How the carries split Sunday will follow the play calls, he said.
“We’ve been rotating pretty good throughout the week,” Williams said.
Javonte Williams Leans On What 2025 Taught Him
In his first season with Dallas, Williams set career highs with 252 carries, 1,201 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns. The yardage was the most by a Cowboys player since Ezekiel Elliott ran for 1,357 in 2019, and Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension in February.
“Just last year, like you said, it taught me a lot just to stay on top of my recovery and just stay in the playbook and to expect that going into the game,” Williams said.
Staying on top of that routine “helps me out a lot,” Williams said.
“I feel pretty good. I feel good where the offense is at,” Williams said of taking on a heavy share of the touches nine games into the season.
Williams On Israel Abanikanda
Schottenheimer said Friday that practice squad back Israel Abanikanda is who Dallas expects to see Sunday. Abanikanda has been with the Cowboys since Nov. 30, 2025, and has not played in a regular-season game since 2023 with the New York Jets.
Williams described Abanikanda as explosive and as a back who can catch the ball out of the backfield.
“I mean, he’s doing good with his run plays. He knows everything about the playbook,” Williams said.
Schottenheimer also said fullback Hunter Luepke will get more plays against San Francisco. Kickoff at AT&T Stadium is 3:25 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX.
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