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Stargazing: Cowboys to watch vs. Panthers – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
These two need to keep pressure on Bryce Young early and often.
Micah Parsons, EDGE
There were some who questioned the leadership and selflessness of Parsons heading into the 2024 season but, from the moment training camp started in July, the All-Pro pass rusher has shown he’s keenly aware of the criticism and has evolved into one of the most vocal leaders in the locker room. And after the gutting loss to the Bengals that took him to tears and all but eliminated Dallas from the playoff picture, and the loss of DeMarvion Overshown, the final four games will be the biggest test of his leadership; and I’m looking forward to seeing how he responds to a challenge like this that’s never presented itself to him ever in his football life.
Marist Liufau, LB
With Overshown now lost to three torn ligaments in his right knee, the onus immediately falls upon Liufau to step up going forward. The decision to use a draft pick on him in April proves brilliant now, and the rookie has flashed in his opportunities to this point, including a critical sack on Joe Burrow that could’ve and should’ve helped lead the Cowboys to victory over the Bengals in primetime. Mike Zimmer is hinting at using Parsons differently with Overshown not in the mix, but I’d draw a circle around Liufau going forward as they try to use him in Overshown’s packages.
Rico Dowdle, chasing 1,000 yards, a bright spot for Cowboys – Todd Archer, ESPN
The former backup has shined as a starter, and has a milestone within reach.
The words “one thousand” and “yards” were never formed into a full question before Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle answered.
“Two-sixty-nine,” Dowdle said. “Yep, two-sixty-nine.”
That’s how many yards Dowdle needs in the Cowboys’ final four games to reach 1,000. In a season full of team disappointment with a 5-8 record and playoff talk dismissed the way Jim Mora dismissed it so many years ago — “Playoffs?!” — an individual milestone is still in play for Dowdle.
How much does he want to reach that mark?
“I definitely want it,” he said. “Definitely I’m trying to do it. That’d be nice to get [my] first 1,000-yard season. Definitely want to do it. It’s out there, so trying to.”
Dowdle leads the Cowboys with 731 rushing yards on 152 carries, both career highs. That he has a chance at 1,000 yards is remarkable in a way, considering the start of the season.
Cowboys injury report: Cooper Beebe ruled out, Trevon Diggs questionable – LP Cruz, Blogging The Boys
Dallas has several players whose status is up in the air for Sunday.
As the Cowboys prepare to travel to Carolina to face the suddenly rejuvenated Carolina Panthers, the Cowboys will have to do it without some of their promising young talent. The week’s final injury report revealed the status of their key players.
As expected, Cooper Beebe has been ruled out by #Cowboys vs. Panthers.
Several questionable, including Trevon Diggs.
None labeled as doubtful.
Full final injury report for Week 15: pic.twitter.com/3gcmqhvFoi
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) December 13, 2024
Rookie center Cooper Beebe has been ruled out. After suffering a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals, he has not practiced this week and is slated to miss Sunday’s game. Juanyeh Thomas (knee) has also not practiced this week and has been ruled out. Veteran Eric Kendricks (NIR-personal/shoulder) missed all practices this week but managed to be ruled as questionable. Trevon Diggs (knee) did not practice today, but there hasn’t been any indication that he is at imminent risk of missing this week’s game. He is questionable. Jourdan Lewis (hamstring) is also questionable.
The good news for Dallas is that CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) Tyler Smith (ankle), Rico Dowdle (knee), and DaRon Bland (foot) have been removed from the injury report and carry no injury designation for Sunday.
What does the future hold for Tyler Guyton after rocky rookie Cpwboys season? – Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
Tyler Guyton has certainly gone through his fair share of rookie growing pains.
Sunday’s game between the Cowboys and Panthers unexpectedly means little for playoff possibilities and is more about draft positioning.
That’s a result of life in the NFL. It’s a year-to-year business.
Part of that yearly process is the patience teams afford young players in their development. For Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, a return from a benching allowed him to grow and show he was worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
On the other side is Tyler Guyton, the Cowboys’ first-round selection in 2024.
The chance is remote that Guyton will be on the field Sunday as Young tries to end the Panthers’ three-game losing streak
Guyton wasn’t benched by the Cowboys. Injuries pushed him to the sideline, and he may just not be ready to play full-time at left tackle. Coach Mike McCarthy recently said that if not for a foot injury, Chuma Edoga would have been the Cowboys’ Week 1 starter at left tackle. Edoga has recovered and is projected to make his second consecutive start against the Panthers.
The Cowboys knew moving Guyton from being a full-time right tackle in college to the demanding position of left tackle in the NFL would be challenging.
While Guyton has shown flashes of a future at the position, how he’s responded to neck and ankle injuries and a team-high 16 penalties are concerning.
CeeDee Lamb 27 yards away from joining exclusive Cowboys club – Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire
Lamb has quietly has another productive season.
At just 5-8 and on the brink of official elimination from playoff contention, there wouldn’t seem to be much left for the Cowboys to play for. But there is one star player who will have a noteworthy accomplishment well within his grasp when the team lines up to face Carolina in Week 15.
CeeDee Lamb needs just 27 receiving yards to post his fourth straight 1,000-yard season.
While some will argue that the 1,000-yard milestone doesn’t mean what it used to since the inception of the 17-game schedule (28 pass-catchers did it in 2023), it’s still a benchmark achievement.
And how rare is doing it four times in a row? Assuming Lamb hits 1K, he’ll become just the second Cowboy in franchise history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in four consecutive campaigns.
Only Michael Irvin has pulled off that particular feat, topping the millennium mark five times in a row, every season from 1991 to 1995.
