FRISCO, Texas — Jaydon Blue is back and ready for his preseason debut, and not a moment too soon, considering the matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons on Friday will serve as the final outing before the regular season commences on Sept. 4 against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Having suffered a bruised foot/ankle nearly two weeks ago in Oxnard, the rookie fifth-round pick has been sidelined from practice, and any preseason action, ever since, but he returned to the former when the Cowboys got underway with padded practices at the team's headquarters in North Texas.
Blue was a full participant and looked back to his usual self, and with no restrictions or limitations, also revealing he's been medically cleared to take on the Falcons.
"Oh, I'm playing," he said, an ear-to-ear grin accentuating his excitement.
It'll be interesting to see how head coach and offensive play caller Brian Schottenheimer will determine his rotation of running backs on Friday, considering the addition of Malik Davis and the return of Miles Sanders from injury last week — also factoring in the emergence of the Cowboys' other rookie halfback, Phil Mafah, along with Deuce Vaughn seeking playing time as well after missing time with a hamstring injury.
But, for Blue, it's all about making most of whatever opportunities he's given, in the only preseason game he'll participate in.
"It felt great being back out here," he said after Tuesday's practice. "... I was having a great camp before I went down. I know a lot of these guys and the coaches know what I can do on the football field. I'm just ready to showcase that in a game this Friday.
"… I'm feeling great. I feel like I'm back to myself, I had to sit for the past two weeks. I'm just ready to get on the field and be able to play against a different team."
And what exactly does he want to put on film when he gets under the lights at AT&T Stadium?
"I bring a lot of things to the table," Blue said. "Not only at the running back position, but in the passing game, man. I say control you, and let God do a lot of things. I just try my best to perform how way I do on the field, so that I can make that job easy for the coaches."
Schottenheimer and the coaching staff, including running backs coach Derrick Foster, have certainly taken notice of not only Blue's work ethic, but most certainly of his ability to be a home-run hitter.
And now that he's healthy, Blue can be sent to the plate for a few swings.
