The Dallas Cowboys’ offense completely flamed out in the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers. Of course, one bad half is not close to enough to overshadow what has been an outstanding season for Dak Prescott and company.

That doesn’t mean Brian Schottenheimer doesn’t have a lot to improve on before next season. Fortunately, the Cowboys will return almost their entire offense in 2026, including wide receiver George Pickens, whether he has a new deal or plays on the franchise tag.

The picture for Javonte Williams is a lot less clear, though you wouldn’t find a Cowboys fan who doesn’t want him back. The 25-year-old running back is one of Dallas’ better free agency signings of the last decade, but the second half of the season has presented a troubling trend that should light a fire under the front office.

Cowboys RB Javonte Williams has clearly worn down in the second half of the season

Williams came out guns blazing to start the year, and that continued into October and November, making it clear that the Cowboys didn’t just catch lightning in a bottle in their $3 million tailback. He rushed for 855 yards over the first 11 games while averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

The former second-round pick endeared himself to Cowboys fans with his punishing running style, bouncing off tacklers like a pinball. With no other reliable RB to spell him, though, that wear and tear has resulted in a notable dip in efficiency in the last four games.

Williams has tallied less than 4.0 yards per carry in three of those games, with the one exception coming in Week 15 against the Vikings, where he averaged 6.1 YPC.

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After ranking among the leaders in yards after contact, yards after contact per carry, and missed tackles forced, Williams ranks 13th (out of 44 qualified RBs), 24th, and 12th in those respective categories from Weeks 13-16, per PFF.

It was unfair to think that Williams would maintain his early-season efficiency for all 17 games. He runs too hard, and he underwent major knee surgery two years ago. And for all of the late-season struggles, for lack of a better term, he is still second in yards after contact per attempt for the season and 12th in explosive play rate. It’s not like he’s fallen off the face of the earth.

There’s no shame in Williams losing some juice. The NFL season is a war of attrition, but the Cowboys failed him by not having an adequate backup. Malik Davis has been fine since supplanting Jaydon Blue as RB2, but there isn’t a defense in the league that fears Davis.

The Cowboys would be smart to retain Williams in 2026. He’s proven he can perform at a Pro Bowl level in this offense. But the front office has to prioritize finding a legitimate complementary back, through free agency or day three of the draft, to keep him fresh when running the ball should be the engine of the offense late in the year.