The latest news around the Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Tolbert details gruesome finger injury, willing to play through it vs. Eagles – Patrik Walker, DallasCowboys.com
The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver wants to play for the rest of the season despite his injury.
Tolbert left the eventual victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at one point to be evaluated for a finger injury after coming down with a huge reception in tight coverage ahead of halftime.
To hear him explain the injury is to understand just how severe it was.
“When I was coming up with the catch, my pinky finger got stuck in [the cornerback’s jersey],” Tolbert said. “It hyperextended it — dislocated it. I had the ball and I was like, ‘Why can’t I squeeze this?’ It sounds crazy, but it was all in slow motion. It was slower for me because I was trying to squeeze my hand.
“And then I got up and it and [the athletic training staff] popped it back in and stitched it up because it came through the skin.”
You read that correctly.
Tolbert’s finger was so hyperextended and dislocated that it broke the skin, requiring stitches.
But after scoring his two touchdowns in as many games, and after witnessing just how much pain Lamb is enduring to “willingly sacrifice his body for his guys”, Tolbert isn’t waving off a chance to help play Grinch against the Philadelphia Eagles — in much the same way he did against the Buccaneers.
“I came back out and it was more of an emergency at the time,” said Tolbert. “… But it’s feeling better each and every day. The [staff] is gonna help me out and take care of me. I’m ready to play whenever.”
Mike McCarthy more concerned with the future of the Cowboys’ staff than himself – Charean Williams
Mike McCarthy comes to the defense of his staff over his own job security.
Do the Cowboys want him back? Does he want to come back?
Owner Jerry Jones has offered effusive praise for the job McCarthy has done in winning four of the past five games. The Cowboys knew they were out of playoff contention Sunday when they beat the Bucs 26-24.
On Tuesday, Jones intimated that he wants McCarthy back.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, the way that the leadership on this team, and really proud of these young players,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds. [It] makes me think we’ve got and outstanding future ahead of us.”
McCarthy was asked later in the day if he was eager to have a resolution on his status.
“I do believe in time and place, and this is not the time or the place for me to speak on it,” McCarthy said, via Ed Werder of ESPN. “Really, my focus is more about the staff. Their concern is higher for me, because change is something that happens in our league all the time. It’s part of this industry. And I understand it. I am at a different point in my life. I’m more focused on them, and I know that the best way to help everybody is to take care of what’s in front of us. And that’s why the commitment, the pride. . . . I think it benefits everybody for me just to stay on course.”
Brandon Aubrey named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week – DallasCowboys.com
Brandon Aubrey continues to be the team’s MVP this season.
With three field goals over 50 yards, giving him an NFL record, Brandon Aubrey has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Aubrey made four field goals in all – hitting from 58, 49, 58 and 53 – helping the Cowboys to a 26-24 win over the Bucs Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.
Aubrey tied, and then broke the NFL record for most 50-yard field goals in a season with 14.
It’s the second award this year for Aubrey, who was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.
Aubrey is the second Cowboys player to win this award this year as KaVontae Turpin won the weekly honor for his game-winning kickoff return against Washington back in November.
Aubrey ranks third in the NFL in points scored with 136 and second in field goals made with 36.
Grades for Cowboys in hard fought win over Buccaneers – David Howman, Blogging the Boys
Some Cowboys players graded out well against a playoff-caliber team.
Quarterback
This may have been Cooper Rush’s best game ever. The Cowboys knew they’d need to throw the ball more against an elite run defense, and Rush delivered in spades. He hit on 74.3% of his passes and finished with 292 passing yards and a touchdown.
Crucially, Rush tested the Buccaneers deep. Coming into this game, Rush had one of the lowest rates in the league of pass attempts that traveled beyond 10 yards downfield. In this game, he connected on five of his seven attempts, with one of them being a touchdown. Rush did exactly what he needed to do in this game to beat a really talented Buccaneers defense.
Grade: A+
Running backs
Recognizing that the Buccaneers have one of the top run defenses in the league, Dallas did not come into this game trying to run the ball like they have in recent weeks. Unsurprisingly, Rico Dowdle had his 100+ yards rushing streak snapped. In fact, Dowdle averaged just 1.8 yards on the night.
Of course, the Cowboys were also using the run game primarily to keep the defense honest, preventing them from simply pinning their ears back and rushing the passer. To that end, it worked, so it’s hard to ding these running backs all that much in this one.
Grade: B-
Pass catchers
CeeDee Lamb. Need I say more? The receiver continues to stack elite performances, and he had several jaw dropping catches in this one while fighting through excruciating shoulder pain. His toughness has marked an important moment of growth for Lamb this season.
Beyond the star, Dallas got some great contributions in the passing game. Jalen Tolbert had another impressive touchdown catch, and nearly hauled in a tough sideline catch right before halftime. Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson had big plays in big moments too. This group was on their A game in this one.
Grade: A+
Merry Christmas!
