Penn State football former running back Miles Sanders is undergoing surgery on his left knee, according to Dallas Cowboys president Stephen Jones on Friday. This surgery will sideline Sanders for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
He will have a chondral tissue graft surgery, transplanting pieces of his bone and cartilage into the affected area to improve joint function, as reported by ESPN.
During training camp, his knee aggravated him consistently, but not enough to keep him off the field in the first four games for Dallas. He recorded 20 carries for 117 yards and one touchdown over his game appearances and added an additional eight receptions for 30 yards. With his injury bothering him since before the season, Sanders' impact plays were limited. He had one 49-yard run in Week 1, but did not follow up with that same drive in his next three games.
On Wednesday, Sanders did not finish practice. He was also absent from Dallas' most recent game against the New York Jets on Oct. 5. Sanders' inactive status was due to knee and ankle injuries.
His injury comes at an inconvenient time for the Cowboys. They currently hold a 2-2-1 record with their only wins coming against the New York Giants and Jets. In Sanders' final appearance of the season, Dallas tied with Green Bay, 40-40.
The running back played for Penn State for three seasons and was selected 53rd overall in the second round by the Eagles in the 2019 NFL Draft. Sanders became the 45th Nittany Lions to rush for more than 1,000 yards and ranks 25th all-time with 1,649 yards on the ground.
The Cowboys still have running back Javonte Williams, their main rusher throughout the season with Sanders' ongoing injury. Williams has 79 carries for 447 yards and five touchdowns so far in 2025. In Sanders' place, rookie Jaydon Blue stepped up to the No. 2 spot against the Jets. He had four carries for seven yards and Dallas is expecting him to have an impactful role in the backfield regardless of his early stat log. Blue will strive to overcome first-year inconsistencies to step into Sanders' spot.
Outside Williams and Blue, the running back room's depth thins. Hunter Luepke can play at tailback, Malik Davis is currently on the practice squad, and Phil Mafah has yet to start his 21-day practice window off injured reserve.
The Cowboys face the North Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. ET.