An Open Letter to Javonte Williams: Questions Heading into Week 6

Javonte, 

Though short-lived, your career in Denver was electric. I remember your rookie season, wishing I had drafted you in fantasy. I remember when your knee got torn up in your second year there. I remember the position battles that followed over the next two years. The world is unfair to running backs. 

Two years later, you’ve got a star on your helmet - on a one-year deal for a franchise with a rich history and a laundry list of iconic running backs. Through 5 weeks, you’ve looked fantastic, rushing for 447 yards. That’s the number three spot in the whole NFL up to this point, running behind the most injured offensive line in football so far. Pair that with the injuries to other skill position players, and it only goes to show how much you’ve done for our offense.

I’m very grateful that you signed in Dallas. We don’t really bring in free agents... ever. At least, not anybody I was this excited about since Darren McFadden in 2015. You are a great example of facing adversity. Through injury, position battles, switching teams, and now with little help, Javonte Williams is a name I will forever remember with the 2025 NFL season!

1. What made you want to sign in Dallas, and did you have more options?

2. How do you like the Front Office and Coaching staff here, and how is it different from Denver?

I’m wondering if it has more to do with the personnel, such as guard Tyler Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott, or if it's more of a scheme fit. First-year Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer hired Klayton Adams as offensive coordinator last offseason. Adams is well known for his job organizing the run game as the Offensive Line coach for the Arizona Cardinals. 

3. After so much shuffling around the offensive line this year, what can you say about the difference between the starters and backups who have come in on the offensive line?

Dallas, through only five weeks of the season, has now had center Cooper Beebe and guard Tyler Guyton both go out for extended time with ankle sprains. Then, in the tie against the Green Bay Packers, the team lost left tackle Tyler Guyton to a concussion, and left guard Tyler Smith to a knee injury (he was active last week, only in case of an emergency since the line is obviously so thin). Backups Brock Hoffman (center), Nate Thomas (left tackle), T.J. Bass (right guard), Hakeem Adeniji, and Trevor Keegan (split snaps at left guard) have held it down in the trenches when called upon so far. 

4. How has it been playing with Dak Prescott this season, as he is considered an MVP candidate?

So far this season, Dak Prescott is playing some of the best football of his life. With the only consistently healthy offensive players being Javonte Williams, right tackle Terrance Steele, and wide receiver George Pickens, he has led the Cowboys offense to being one of the best in the league. The Cowboys are ranked #3 in EPA/play and total EPA (sumersports.com), #1 in yards/game (ESPN.com), and #4 in points/game (ESPN.com). Not to mention, Dallas currently sits at 2-2-1 with an atrocious defense. Matt Eberflus has led us to the #32 defense in yards allowed/game (ESPN.com) and #28 in points allowed/game (ESPN.com). 

His MVP case is reminiscent of Russell Westbrook’s 2016-17 NBA MVP – a star player elevating his teammates in the wake of losing another great one, and leading them to a respectable record with a ridiculous season-long stat line (in Westbrook’s case, the first player to average a triple-double in 55 years).

5. As a new player in the locker room, how have you demonstrated veteran leadership to younger players?

Williams is in a unique situation: going to the biggest market in the sport on a one-year “prove-it” deal, becoming a star for an injured team staying afloat, ALL WHILE the entire coaching regime was just overhauled. And did I mention they traded Micah Parsons right before the season?

This past offseason, the Cowboys let go of long-term running backs from their roster to sign Javonte and Miles Sanders, another veteran back who has been in the league for six seasons (one more than Williams). Dallas also drafted a rookie RB, Jaydon Blue, out of the University of Texas. He saw his first snaps this week after being a healthy scratch for the first four games. 

6. What experiences throughout your football career have you brought to Dallas?

Not only did Javonte play running back for 4 seasons in Denver, but he also played college football at the University of North Carolina for three seasons. Before that, Williams was the valedictorian of Rose Hill High School in North Carolina. As a longtime athlete and brilliant individual, Williams’ expertise is undoubtedly essential to this team.

Javonte, thank you for all you do for the Cowboys!