Shocking; Cowboys Are On  The Verge Of Cutting Ties With $3M Free Agent Just Months After Signing Amid Backfield 

 

 

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly considering releasing newly acquired running back Javonte Williams — just two months after signing him to a one-year, $3 million deal. The potential move underscores the team’s ongoing struggle to revive a ground game that was among the NFL’s worst in 2024.

Coming off a disappointing 7-10 season and missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, the Cowboys’ offensive woes were most evident in the running game. Dallas ranked 27th in total rushing yards and finished dead last in rushing touchdowns with only six — one of which came from quarterback Dak Prescott.

Veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott accounted for three of those scores before departing for the Chargers’ practice squad in January. The only other touchdowns came from Rico Dowdle, who signed with the Panthers in March. That means no Cowboys running back currently on the roster contributed a single rushing touchdown last season.

In response, Dallas looked to bolster its backfield by signing Javonte Williams, who led the Denver Broncos in rushing in 2024. However, his production — just 513 yards — was a career low in seasons where he played more than four games. Williams, a second-round pick in 2021, suffered a torn ACL in his second year, a setback that continues to cast doubt on his long-term potential.

NFL analyst Alex Kay of Bleacher Report criticized the signing as one of the worst free-agent moves of the offseason. “Considering Williams has nearly double the career touches of Dowdle and a concerning injury history, this signing simply doesn’t make sense,” Kay wrote. While the financial risk was minimal, he noted, the potential reward appears limited.

Now, Williams’ position on the Cowboys roster seems increasingly uncertain. Another Bleacher Report writer, Kristopher Knox, predicted Williams could be cut if he doesn’t outperform fellow running backs Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, or rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah during training camp. Cutting Williams would save Dallas $2 million in cap space — an appealing option for a team looking to reset its offensive identity.

However, not everyone agrees that Williams is the odd man out. Mark Heaney of Inside the Star argued that 28-year-old Miles Sanders might be the more likely cut candidate. Once a standout for the Eagles, Sanders has seen a steady decline in effectiveness. Heaney pointed to heavy college usage, nearly 1,000 career NFL carries, and a history of lower-body injuries as key concerns.

“Sanders just doesn’t have the juice he once did,” Heaney noted, highlighting durability and performance drop-offs that could impact his future in Dallas.

As the Cowboys look to rebound from a lost season, the backfield remains one of their biggest questions. Whether Williams can prove himself in training camp — or become an early roster casualty — will be one of the key storylines to watch heading into the 2025 season.