Updates: D-Law’s status; Lawson’s best? :: The Mothership
Mike McCarthy says DeMarcus Lawrence is unlikely to suit up for Week 16; his 21-day practice window hasn’t even been activated yet. It remains undetermined if he’ll be medically cleared to play again this season at all. Carl Lawson, meanwhile, has stepped up in the D-line rotation. Mike Zimmer called Lawson’s effort in Sunday’s win “his best game he’s played.”
Four takeaways and 6 sacks: Cowboys defense ‘set the tone’ in stifling Panthers :: The Athletic
In a decisive third quarter, Carolina had one single rushing yard and minus-six passing yards for a net total of minus-five yards. During that same 15 minutes, the Cowboys extended their 10-7 halftime lead to 24-7. Six sacks and four takeaways with a rotating cast of players in new roles only speaks to the unit’s overall improvement. Parsons hopes this upswing will carry over to 2025: “You know how much better of a team we’ll be if we say, ‘Damn, we went 9-8 and we missed 10 starters and we playing this good?’”
Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons responds to latest trade rumors: ‘No hard feelings’ :: USA Today
Stephen Jones hinted over the weekend that the team’s annual financial balancing act could leave Parsons, due an extension this coming offseason, the odd man out. The edge rusher explained that he didn’t take the comments as any sort of message. “There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else,” Parsons said. “Obviously I’ve stated that I wanted to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.”
Underrated Cowboys star prices himself out of Dallas with latest dominant game :: The Landry Hat
Osa Odighizuwa has been on fire this season. Luckily for him, it’s also a contract season. One of the most dominant interior defenders in the league this year, Odighizuwa is set to hit free agency in the spring and may have already locked up a massive payday for himself. Only Chiefs superstar Chris Jones (66) and Broncos standout Zach Allen (56) have more pressures this season than Odighizuwa (51) this year. The former third-round pick also ranks second in QB hits, third in pressure rate, and top 10 in hurries. If the frugal Cowboys want to sign the best D-tackle in free agency this offseason, they don’t have to look far; he’s already in their locker room.
Report: Cowboys could be without CB Trevon Diggs for quite some time :: Cowboys Wire
Stephen Jones said Diggs is dealing with “a very legitimate injury that’s gonna take him some time to recover from.” He thinks the cornerback could be be ready by Week 1 next fall, but one insider reports that Diggs “could possibly miss most of next season.” The team may have had some issues with how Diggs attacked his 2023 rehab, per Clarence Hill Jr. Now Diggs is looking at another stint of “up to eight months.”
No updates on Lewis, Bass injuries :: Tommy Yarrish
Cowboys’ Rico Dowdle: ‘Definitely can get’ 1,000 yards after 3rd straight triple-digit outing :: Cowboys Wire
One of the best backs in the league over the past three weeks, Dowdle is now just 120 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. He and his O-lineman teammates are confident they can get there, maybe even this week. But Tampa Bay may have something to say; no team has hit triple digits against them since Week 9.
How one touchdown play sums up the Dallas Cowboys’ late season success :: Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Cowboys love the “next man up” mentality. On their third-quarter touchdown pass play to Jalen Tolbert, there were an incredible seven of them in the offensive lineup. Cooper Rush, Rico Dowdle, Brock Hoffman, T.J. Bass, Terence Steele, Hunter Luepke, and Brevyn Spann-Ford all joined the team as undrafted free agents. Now they’re, in large part, helping to carry the team. “When you got guys that are hungry and didn’t get all of the glitz and glamour coming into the league,” Hoffman said, “guys that are undrafted have to fight every day.”
Cowboys-Panthers postgame analysis :: Cowboys Wire
Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey given chance to make NFL history with 70-yard FG vs. Panthers :: CBS Sports
Aubrey got the chance to break the NFL record with a 70-yard field goal try in Charlotte. The kick sailed very wide left, but that’s not to say Aubrey doesn’t have 70 in him. After all, the kick came on the road, outdoors, and in cold temperatures with a wind to contend with.
Cowboys’ Mike Zimmer: Travis Hunter’s two-way versatility a ‘good problem to have’ in NFL :: Dallas Mornig News
Zimmer knows Coach Prime and his ex-Jackson State players well, including Hunter. The Cowboys likely won’t have a shot at the Heisman winner, who’s projected by most to go No. 1 overall in the draft, but the defensive coordinator says the team who selects Hunter “might get two players at one (spot)… So you waste one draft pick and get two players.”
Jerry Jones is our Bum Steer of the Year! :: Texas Monthly
The magazine’s so-called “highest dishonor” of the year goes to the Cowboys owner, thanks to a long list of lowlights, including the team’s epic playoff collapse against Green Bay, his refusal to spend money on staff and players, his verbal temper tantrum over local radio comments, his constant public undermining of coaches, and his ridiculous comments and overall stance on the sun glare at AT&T Stadium. (Jones was co-winnner of the award back in 2010, too.)
