PHILADELPHIA — Jaydon Blue is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday, one day after the Dallas Cowboys waived the second-year running back. Schefter posted the report at 6:51 p.m. CT.
Blue cleared waivers at noon CT and became a free agent. Dallas waived 28 players and released 7 on Sunday to reach the 53-man limit.
Through three preseason games, Blue led the Cowboys with 94 rushing yards on 23 carries, and he caught 2 passes for 15 yards. He missed practice time in camp with a shoulder injury.
Dallas drafted Blue in the fifth round, 149th overall, out of Texas in 2025. As a rookie he appeared in 5 games and rushed 38 times for 129 yards and 1 touchdown, and he caught 1 pass for 5 yards. He also returned 3 kickoffs for 72 yards. Blue played 78 offensive snaps, 25% of the team total, and 11 snaps on special teams. His sole NFL touchdown occurred in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants on Jan. 4, when he rushed 16 times for 64 yards.
Cowboys Running Back Room After Jaydon Blue’s Exit
The Cowboys also waived Phil Mafah and Israel Abanikanda on Sunday. Abanikanda cleared waivers and signed back to the practice squad on Monday. Mafah did not, and neither did Blue.
Dallas claimed Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday and waived quarterback Joe Milton III as the corresponding move. Demercado rushed for 312 yards last season with the Arizona Cardinals and has 819 career rushing yards on 6.5 yards per carry. He spent two seasons in Arizona while Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was on that staff. Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Demercado, and fullback Hunter Luepke are the backs on the initial 53-man roster.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer stated Monday that he told Blue and Mafah prior to the cuts that he wasn’t certain whether either would be reinstated, and he was as honest as possible with them.
“This is more a testament to a guy like Malik Davis that has just, time in and time out has come back and proven his worth, and the way he is wired,” Schottenheimer said. “I know both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah should and will reach out to Malik because now they are in an unfortunate situation like that.
“But, if you want to learn from a veteran, Malik Davis would be the first call that I would make,” Schottenheimer continued. “The guy went from being on the street, not getting really hardly any looks, even workouts, and he’s back in Oxnard, and now he’s solidified himself as a very, very valuable member of our football team. So, it’s hard to see both Jaydon and Phil go, but I really do think those guys are both landing good opportunities and maximize them.”
Eagles Practice Squad And Running Back Depth
The Eagles kept Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Will Shipley at running back on their initial 53-man roster and released Dameon Pierce on Sunday. Pierce is returning on the practice squad, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported. Philadelphia announced 13 practice squad signings on Monday. A practice squad holds 16 players, or 17 when a club uses an International Player Pathway exemption.
Pierce carried 4 times for 44 yards in Philadelphia’s preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 28. Shipley returned kickoffs for the Eagles last season and has 44 career carries for 131 yards.
Philadelphia opens the season at home against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 13, with kickoff at 3:25 p.m. CT. Dallas plays at the Giants that night, with kickoff at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. The Cowboys visit the Eagles on Monday, Oct. 26, with kickoff at 7:15 p.m. CT, and host Philadelphia on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. CT on FOX.
