The quick, shifty Texas Longhorn was expected to make an immediate impact in the Cowboys’ backfield. Instead, he has yet to log a snap three weeks into the regular season.

Fans are now questioning when the rookie could get his first opportunity. Why has it taken so long? And when could he start? There’s a few reasons why.

Growing Pains

Jaydon Blue is about as raw of a player as it gets. Here’s what head coach Brian Schottenheimer said about the rookie running back in July:

“I think in the spring he picked it up slower than we had hoped. But not now. He’s got it. He’s figuring it out,” Schottenheimer explained. “He’s one of those guys that doesn’t say much, but there’s a big time competitive fire in there. He wants to be great. He wants to be elite. He knows he’s talented.”

There’s lots of positivity in that quote but one phrase sticks out: “He picked it up slower than we had hoped.” That’s coach speak for a player who isn’t on the same timeline as he was expected to follow.

Now here’s what the coach said after Blue was inactive in week 1:

“Young players, it hits at different times. He’s extremely talented. … You have to earn your chance to get out there. There has to be consistency,” Schottenheimer said.

This quote again confirms that Blue hasn’t reached whatever benchmark the Cowboys want him to meet before he gets on the field. Whether that’s knowing the playbook, having good practice habits, or another reason, he won’t get action until it’s resolved.

Stiff Competition

The Cowboys signed veteran running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in the offseason. Both were marked as castaways as Williams battled injuries and Sanders had fumble woes throughout his career. They’ve both had revivals with stars on their helmets.

Williams has taken the majority of the snaps carrying the ball 43 times for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sanders has 18 carries for 109 yards. They’re each averaging over five yards a carry for a team in need of a strong running game.

Rico Dowdle ran the ball 235 times last season. His longest run of the year was for 27 yards. It only took Javonte Williams 24 carries to break that mark already this season. The patience, the power, the burst. J-Dub is a nice asset for the Cowboys.pic.twitter.com/VzZiFXWLc7

https://twitter.com/DannyPhantom24/status/1967606676284150224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

With both veterans performing at a high level the Cowboys haven’t been in need of Blue’s services. Some fans want to see the rookie take over for Sanders but Dallas hasn’t seen a reason to make the switch.

Until one of those veterans starts to struggle, Blue will have a hard time getting meaningful snaps.

Committee Back

Blue has never been the type of running back to take over a backfield going back to his days at the University of Texas. He shared his duties with Tre Wisner and Derrick Gibson. Still, he had 214 carries for 1,161 yards and 8 touchdowns.

The rookie was drafted with the intent of providing a spark but not carrying the Dallas offense. Even when he’s ready to take the field, he’ll be spliced in with other runners.

The Cowboys are examining their options while Blue continues to develop because even if they use him now, he’ll be a complimentary piece.

With veterans like Sanders and Williams commanding the backfield, Blue has more time to ready himself for the NFL when his opportunity does come.

For now, fans will have to continue to monitor the pregame inactive list on gamedays to see if Blue gets his shot.