Fans of the Dallas Cowboys would sure love to see Travis Etienne in the team’s uniform, but those Etienne-to-Dallas rumors appear to be false.
The blog Cowboys Country reported Monday that the team is not looking to upgrade its running back room, even with an uninspiring group of RBs, headlined by Miles Sanders.
The Cowboys finished 27th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (100.3) in 2024, led by Rico Dowdle’s 1,079 yards, and ranked 30th in the league in yards per carry (4.0). Dowdle left for the Carolina Panthers in free agency, and second-ranked rusher Ezekiel Elliott is a member of the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.
Etienne posted two straight 1,400-plus all-purpose-yard seasons in Jacksonville, but his production cratered in 2024. The 25th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft had just 558 rushing yards in 15 games last season.
Will The Cowboys Trade For Travis Etienne?
The Cowboys are often linked to high-profile players, and they have already added dynamic wide receiver George Pickens via trade this off-season.
A season after going 7-10, it’s conceivable owner/general manager Jerry Jones will stop at nothing to get back to the playoffs and Super Bowl.
But, according to Mike Fisher of Athlon Sports, any Etienne rumors — or those tying Dallas to James Cook or any other RBs — are not true.
“At this time rumors about Dallas pursuing a running back trade at this time are ‘false,'” Fisher wrote Monday. “The Cowboys feel set at running back and likely won’t even contemplate a move at any position until they see the lay of the land with what they have.”
Fisher cited both Sanders and former Denver Broncos back Javontae Williams, plus University of Texas rookie Jaydon Blue as the three-headed backfield decision makers inside the Dallas facility are comfortable with.
“It is Sanders and Williams and Blue,” Fisher wrote. “Any proposed move for another back right now simply doesn’t make any sense – at least from a perspective from inside The Star.”
Why Are The Cowboys Linked To Travis Etienne?
Though Etienne is coming off a dreadful season, he is well thought-of around the league. He is just one year removed from appearing on ESPN’s list of the 10-best running backs in the NFL, according to executives.
But with Etienne outrushed by 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby, and set to enter the final year of his rookie contract at $6 million-plus, there is clear opportunity for Jacksonville to trade him.
Throw in the fact the Jaguars have a new coach, Liam Coen, and it is entirely plausible that Etienne could find himself playing elsewhere.
The Cowboys have both struggled in the run game and committing to the run game since Elliott left for the New England Patriots after the 2022 season. After finishing ninth in the league in rushing-yards per game, Dallas finished 14th in 2023 before cratering after Tony Pollard departed for the Tennessee Titans in 2024.
With offensive-minded head coach Brian Schottenheimer taking the reins from Mike McCarthy, and the addition of Sanders via a one-year contract in free agency, the Cowboys are clearly aware they need an upgrade.
But a trade for a back like Etienne could rejuvenate the back’s career and add another dynamic option to the Cowboys’ veteran-laden offense — especially with dynamic wideout/kick returner/athlete KaVontae Turpin now facing suspension after he was arrested over the weekend.
