FRISCO, Texas – As the Cowboys rebuild their running back room to model what new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and offensive coordinator Klayton Adams want to do in the run game, they've turned to two backs in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders who have shown flashes in the past and could benefit from a fresh start.
In Sanders' case, he's hoping to get back to playing at a Pro Bowl level like he did with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, when he rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's spent the last two years in Carolina, where he's ran for a combined 637 yards and three touchdowns in those two seasons, and it was clear that frustration lingered from that experience.
"These last two years, I don't really have much to say," Sanders said. "I guess I'd say I handled the situation as best I could, there was a lot of things out of my control that I would not like to speak on and just keep it in house, so I'll just keep it at that."
Sanders primarily split carries with Chuba Hubbard in Carolina, and the Panthers utilized Hubbard a lot more in 2024 which held Sanders to just 55 carries on the season in 11 games played.
"Definitely a learning experience, you just have to control what you can control," Sanders said of his last two seasons. "I think I've made the best of this situation with the cards I've been dealt with, there's a lot of stuff out of my control, but I'm just blessed to still be in the situation I'm in and have another opportunity to ball out."
The opportunity will come in Dallas, which will take some time to adjust to for Sanders, who is a native of Pennsylvania and spent the first four seasons of his NFL career playing for the rival Eagles.
"It is going to be a little strange…" Sanders said. "Dak [Prescott] hit me up, it was a funny little conversation, he congratulated me and welcomed me to the team… more excited though, it is going to be a little strange, but I'm excited for the opportunity, honestly."
Prescott wasn't the only person to reach out to Sanders, as Schottenheimer was the first to make contact with Sanders. Similarly to how some of the other free agents the Cowboys have acquired, Sanders appreciated how personable Schottenheimer was during their initial conversation.
"It just came off real genuine, we didn't really talk about football, it was moreso relationships and stuff like that, what I can do, and just talk about the future and about the team," Sanders said. "He's excited for the opportunity too, I love his energy, he answered all the questions that I had."
From a schematic standpoint, Sanders hasn't dived into the X's and O's with Schottenheimer and Adams just yet, but they've made it clear that the offense will feature it heavily, and Adams' history with the offensive line presents a unique situation for Dallas' offense.
"The plan for the offense is to go through the run," Sanders said. "You don't get too many places where the offensive coordinator is an offensive line coach, and I know he's playing a big part into the plan, I'm excited."
The Cowboys backfield as it stands currently will feature Sanders and Williams in 2025. They haven't played together, but Sanders has watched and admired Williams' game from afar since his days at North Carolina.
"I haven't met him in person yet but definitely watched his game and been a fan of his game, watched him in college too," Sanders said. "Definitely excited to work with him and pick his brain and see how he looks at things. I'm always learning no matter how long I've been in the league, I'm excited."
It's not often that Pennsylvania natives unite for the Cowboys, but Sanders will play with his former teammate at Penn State Micah Parsons again in a different blue and white uniform. They only spent one season together in Sanders' final year of college, but that was enough for Parsons to make an impression on him.
"Micah is Micah, he's a one of one type of player…" Sanders said. "He's one of those types of players that's a freakish athlete and definitely a hard worker, that type of guy and type of mentality. One of those guys that I have a lot of respect for too."
